Flow-mediated skin fluorescence: A novel method for the estimation of sleep apnea risk in healthy persons and cardiac patients.

BACKGROUND: A pilot study revealed a relationship between the results of flow mediated skin fluorescence (FMSF) and of ECG-Holter-based estimated apnea/hypopnea index (eAHI) in asymptomatic individuals. The aim of this study was to test whether the results of FMSF show a relationship with the eAHI in patients with coronary artery disease or aortic stenosis. METHODS: Twenty-one patients (12 coronary disease, 9 aortic stenosis) and 37 healthy volunteers were included. FMSF was assessed before, during and after the pressure occlusion of the brachial artery, using a prototype device allowing the quantification of skin fluorescence. The values of FMSF expressed as baseline (BASE), maximum (MAX), and minimum (MIN) were analyzed. The percentages of ischemic response (IR) and hyperemic response (HR) were calculated. The eAHI was assessed from night ECG-Holter recordings. Differences between the groups and the relationships between the parameters were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Mean ± standard deviation of BASE, MAX, MIN and IR were not significantly different in both groups (p > 0.05). HR was significantly lower in cardiac patients (14.7 ± 7.5 vs. 11.8 ± 5.1; p = 0.048), whose eAHI was significantly higher (11.0 ± 7.4 vs. 36.3 ± 16.5; p < 0.01). Negative correlation for MAX and eAHI was found in volunteers and patients: r = -0.38, p = 0.02 and r = -0.47, p = 0.03, respectively. In volunteers, HR had a negative correlation with eAHI: r = -0.34, p = 0.04. CONCLUSIONS: This pioneer study confirms that FMSF can be used to detect the negative correlation between MAX fluorescence and eAHI not only among healthy volunteers, but also among cardiac patients with coronary artery disease or aortic stenosis.

Polymorphism of Interleukin-1 Gene Cluster in Polish Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Some experimental studies demonstrated adverse modulation of atherothrombosis by interleukin-1beta (IL-1b). To assess the relationship between the five most common variants of three polymorphisms of the IL1b gene cluster and the complexity of coronary atherosclerosis expressed in Gensini Score (GS), and the age of onset of the first acute coronary syndrome (ACS), we assessed the patients (pts) hospitalized due to ACS in this aspect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 250 individuals were included. The single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL1b gene: transition T/C at -31 position, C/T at -511, and those of IL1 receptor antagonist gene (IL1RN)-variable number of tandem repeats allele 1, 2, 3, or 4-were determined by PCR. GS was calculated from the coronary angiogram performed at the index ACS. The impact of the presence of T or C and allele 1 to 4 at the investigated loci on the mean GS, GS greater than 40, mean age of onset of ACS, and the fraction of pts over 60 years of age at ACS were compared between the five most common genotype variants. RESULTS: The five most common variants were present in 203 pts (81.2%). Patients with pair 22 in ILRN had the lowest rate and those with pair 12 had the highest rate of ACS before 60 years of age (29.4 vs. 67.8%; p = 0.004). GS > 40 entailed an eight-fold increase of risk, as observed when pts with one T allele at locus -31 were compared with carriers of 2 or no T allele at this locus: OR 8.73 [CI95 4.26-70.99] p = 0.04. CONCLUSION: Interleukin-1 beta is subject to frequent genetic variability and our results show a potential relationship of this polymorphism with the extent of coronary atherosclerosis and age at the first ACS.

Dietary habits and myocardial infarction in occupationally active men.

OBJECTIVES: Only a few studies have been undertaken to analyze the dietary habits of people with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary behaviors of working people who were hospitalized due to experiencing the first acute cardiovascular incident. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the study, the Functional Activity Questionnaire was used. The study was conducted in 2 groups. The first group included all the men hospitalized during 1 year (January-December 2009) in 2 clinics of cardiology, who were professionally active until the first myocardial infarction (MI). It comprised 243 men aged 26-70 years. The reference group consisted of 403 men, blue- and white-collar workers, aged 35-65 years. RESULTS: The body mass index of the MI patients was significantly higher (p = 0.006). The frequency of consumption of particular products in the MI group and in the reference group differed significantly for 11 of 21 products. The MI patients significantly less frequently reported the daily consumption of fruit, raw vegetables, cheese, vegetable oils and fish. In this group, the consumption of salty (p = 0.0226) or fatty (p < 0.0001) foods was significantly higher. It was shown that, after adjusting for age, education and the type of work, the daily consumption of fish, salads and cooked vegetables, as well as fruit and vegetable oils, significantly reduced the risk of myocardial infarction. An increased MI risk was, in turn, associated with obesity and preference for fatty foods. CONCLUSIONS: The authors found that diet significantly modified the MI risk in the examined workers. This indicates that an important aspect of prevention activities among working people should involve education about proper dietary habits. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(6):853-63.

Resistant hypertension: Renal denervation or pharmacovigilance? Insights from a renal denervation screening program.

BACKGROUND: With emerging new therapeutic concepts including renal denervation (RDN), there is a renewed interest in resistant hypertension (ResH). Among patients suspected of having ResH, a definitive diagnosis needs to be established. OBJECTIVES: This study presents observations from a standardized single-center screening program for RDN candidates, including medical therapy modification and reassessment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients referred to our center for RDN underwent a standardized screening protocol. Candidates were recruited from among patients receiving no less than 3 antihypertensive drugs, including diuretics with office blood pressure (BP) >140/90 mm Hg. The assessment included 2 measurements of BP and ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). If needed, pharmacotherapy was intensified and the diagnosis of ResH was reconfirmed after 6 weeks. If ResH was persistent, patients were hospitalized with repeated ABPM on day 4. Further, renal CT-angio was performed and a multidisciplinary team discussed the patients' suitability for RDN. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients with a ResH diagnosis were referred for RDN. Mean office BP was 159/92 (±7.0/6.5) mm Hg and mean ABPM was 154/90 (±9.0/4.8) mm Hg. The initial medication included angiotensin convertase inhibitors (ACE-I, 78%), angiotensin receptor blockers (12%), ß-blockers (85%), calcium channel blockers (36%), and diuretics (93%). During the 18 months of the RDN program, 5 patients underwent RDN and 2 further had ineligible renal anatomy. A new diagnosis of secondary hypertension was made in 21 patients. However, in 59 patients, BP control was achieved after optimization of medical therapy, with a mean ABPM of 124/74 mm Hg. The final treatment included ACE-I (100%), ß-blockers (92%), indapamide (94%), amlodipine (72%), and spironolactone (61%). Medication in most of these patients (88%) included single-pill triple combination (52.5%) or double combination (35.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with elevated BP screened for RDN require a rigorous diagnostic workup. Up to 2/3 of patients can be managed with strict pharmacotherapy compliance and pharmaceutical intensification, including single-pill combinations and improved drug compliance. Hasty use of RDN may be a result of poor drug optimization and/or compliance. It does remain a viable treatment option in thoroughly vetted ResH patients.

Quantitative assessment of the rotation and twist of the left ventricle during dobutamine stress echocardiography: a comparison of patients with and without significant coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The rotation and twist of the left ventricle (LV) have been comprehensively evaluated at rest. However, little is known about rotational mechanics during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). AIMS: We aimed to quantify and compare the basal and apical rotation and twist of the LV at rest as well as at the peak and recovery stages of DSE in patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We enrolled 91 patients, including 48 patients with CAD and 43 patients without CAD (mean [SD] age, 62 [9] years and 61 [10] years, respectively). Coronary artery disease was defined as the presence of stenoses of 50% or more in the left main coronary artery and/or stenoses of 70% or more in other epicardial arteries. Rotation was measured by 2­dimensional speckle­tracking echocardiography, and twist was calculated as the difference between the basal and apical rotation. RESULTS: Neither rotation nor twist differed between patients with and without CAD at rest, although apical rotation was significantly greater in the CAD group at peak DSE (mean [SD], 5.43° [3.45°] vs 3.71° [3.52°], P = 0.01) and at recovery (mean [SD], 5.05° [3.65°] vs 2.87° [2.73°], P <0.01). On the contrary, the absolute value for basal rotation at recovery was higher in patients without CAD (mean [SD], 3.87° [3.37°] vs 2.63° [2.43°], P = 0.03). In both groups, the rotation and twist did not change significantly during the dobutamine challenge. CONCLUSIONS: During DSE, we observed differences in LV rotation between patients with and without CAD, revealing the effect of ischemia on deformation parameters.

Arrhythmic manifestation of peripartum cardiomyopathy-Case report.

We report a case of 26-year-old woman, with arrhythmic manifestation of peripartum cardiomyopathy with moderate heart failure. Ventricular arrhythmia recorded in ambulatory Holter ECG (premature ventricular contractions) was most severe during pregnancy, reduced when beta-blocker therapy was initiated and almost completely resolved after delivery. Then, 1 year after hospitalization in Cardiology Department, recurrence was observed with recorded short episode of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia.

Overweight and obesity in patients with atrial fibrillation: Sex differences in 1-year outcomes in the EORP-AF General Pilot Registry.

BACKGROUND: The impact of overweight and obesity on outcomes in "real world" patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is not fully defined. Second, sex differences in AF outcomes may also exist. METHODS AND RESULTS: The aim was to investigate outcomes at 1 year follow-up for AF patients enrolled in the EORP-AF Registry, according to BMI (kg/m2 ), comparing patients with normal BMI (18.5 to < 25 kg/m2 ), overweight (25 to < 30 kg/m2 ) and obesity (≥ 30 kg/m2 ), in relation to sex differences. Among 2,540 EORP AF patients (38.9% female; median age 69) with 1 year follow-up data available, 720 (28.3%) had a normal BMI, 1,084 (42.7%) were overweight, and 736 (29.0%) were obese. Obese patients were younger and with more prevalent diabetes mellitus and hypertension (P < 0. 001). One-year outcomes showed that all-cause mortality was significantly different according to BMI among female patients (9.3% normal BMI, 5.3% overweight, and 4.3 % obese, P = 0.023), but not among male patients (P = 0.748). The composite outcome of thromboembolic events and death was also significantly different, being lower in obese females (P = 0.035). Among male patients, bleeding events were significantly more frequent in obese subjects (P = 0.035). On multivariable Cox analysis, BMI was not independently associated with all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Among AF patients, overweight and obesity are common and associated with better outcomes in females (a finding previously reported as "obesity paradox"), while no significant differences in outcomes are detected among male patients. Final multivariable model found that increasing BMI was not associated with increased risk of all-cause death; conversely, age and comorbidities persisted as major determinants.

Genetic variants in a Polish population of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: sequencing of BMPR2, ALK1, and ENG genes.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease with a very serious prognosis. It seems that mutations in genes related to transforming growth factor-b signalling pathway are often related to the development of the disease. No study covers this problem in a Polish population. AIM: To screen for genetic mutations in a Polish cohort of patients with pulmonary hypertension, especially with idiopathic PAH, treated in a single hospital in Poland. METHODS: DNA sequencing method was used. Samples from 50 patients with pulmonary hypertension were screened for mutations in type 2 bone morphogenetic protein receptor of the transforming growth factor-b superfamily gene (BMPR2). Samples from 20 patients with idiopathic PAH (11 men, mean age 55 years) were also screened for mutations in activin A receptor-like type 1 gene (ALK1) and endoglin gene (ENG). RESULTS: No genetic variations were found for the BMPR2 gene. In all 20 samples from idiopathic pulmonary hypertension patients we found heterozygosity of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs 372023206 in ALK1 gene. Three samples from these patients showed variations of ENG gene: we found one sample with heterozygosity of SNP rs 200525684, one with heterozygosity of SNP rs 3739817, and one with both. CONCLUSIONS: We detected benign polymorphisms or genetic variants of unknown importance. It is possible that the Polish population of PAH patients differs from the previously described populations of other countries in terms of the frequency and importance of mutations in BMPR2, ALK1 and ENG genes.

Advanced and traditional electrocardiographic risk factors in pulmonary arterial hypertension: the significance of ventricular late potentials.

BACKGROUND: Whether non-invasive electrocardiographic parameters may be of similar relevance in pulmonary arterial hy-pertension (PAH) as in left ventricular heart failure (LVHF) remains unclear. AIM: To examine a profile of electrocardiographic parameters in PAH and to determine their prognostic significance. Com-parison of profile in patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to left ventricular dysfunction was planned in order to put PAH group results into context. METHODS: We included 41 patients with type 1.1/1.4.4 (according to the European Society of Cardiology) PAH and 31 patients with LVHF and type 2.1 pulmonary hypertension. All patients underwent 24-h ambulatory electrocardiography monitoring. RESULTS: Among heart rate variability parameters, only RMSSD was different (mean, 75 ms [PAH] vs. 112 ms [LVHF], p = 0.016). In PAH, fewer patients had ventricular tachycardia (15% vs. 48%, p = 0.004), abnormal deceleration capacity (54% vs. 84%, p = 0.011), positive heart rate turbulence (11% vs. 48%, p = 0.003), severe autonomic failure (10% vs. 39%, p = 0.005), and ventricular late potentials (LP) (19% vs. 62%, p = 0.001). In PAH, four deaths occurred in 42 months. In univariate analysis, the risk factors for death were: LP (hazard ratio 13.55, 95% confidence interval 1.41-130.72; p = 0.024), age, N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide, while the protective factors were minimal and mean heart rate, as well as the six-minute walk test (6MWT) distance. In multivariate analysis, the influence of LP and the 6MWT distance remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular LP were present in 19% of PAH patients and were the most powerful risk factor of mortality .

Diabetes as an independent predictor of left ventricular longitudinal strain reduction at rest and during dobutamine stress test in patients with significant coronary artery disease.

Aims: Diabetes (DM) is a strong cardiovascular risk factor modifying also the left ventricular (LV) function that may be objectively assessed with echocardiographic strain analysis. Although the impact of isolated DM on myocardial deformation has been already studied, few data concern diabetics with coronary artery disease (CAD), especially in all stages of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). We compared LV systolic function during DSE in CAD with and without DM using state-of-the art speckle-tracking quantification and assessed the impact of DM on LV systolic strain. Methods and results: DSE was performed in 250 patients with angina who afterwards had coronarography with ≥50% stenosis in the left main artery and ≥70% in other arteries considered as significant. In this analysis, we included 127 patients with confirmed CAD: 42 with DM [DM(+); mean age 64 ± 9 years] and 85 patients without DM [DM(-); mean age 63 ± 9 years]. The severity of CAD and LV ejection fraction (EF) were similar in both groups. Global and regional LV peak systolic longitudinal strain (PSLS) revealed in all DSE phases lower values in DM(+) group: 14.5 ± 3.6% vs. 17.4 ± 4.0% at rest; P = 0.0001, 13.8 ± 3.9% vs. 16.7 ± 4.0% at peak stress; P = 0.0002, and 14.2 ± 3.1% vs. 15.5 ± 3.5% at recovery; P = 0.0432 for global parameters, although dobutamine challenge did not enhance further resting differences. LV EF, body surface area, and diabetes were independent predictors for strain in 16-variable model (R2 = 0, 51, P < 0.001). Conclusion: PSLS although diminished in both groups with CAD was lower in diabetics at all DSE stages, and DM was an independent predictor of this impairment. However, the dobutamine challenge did not deepen the resting differences, suggesting that the direct impact of coronary stenoses effaces the influence of DM during DSE. The comparison with our previous data revealed synergistic, detrimental effect of coexisting CAD and DM on myocardial strain.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the case of 72-year-old teacher after work-related psychological stress. Evolution of left ventricular longitudinal strain - Delayed but complete recovery in automated function imaging (AFI).

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is related to a transient systolic dysfunction of left ventricle (LV), accompanied by clinical and electrocardiographic symptoms of myocardial ischemia in the absence of hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is usually provoked by a psychologically or/and physically stressful event which may be related to occupational activities. Although visually assessed evolution of LV function is well documented, the data concerning strain changes is sparse and various patterns of deformation abnormalities are suggested. We have described a 72-year-old woman with chest pain related to a lecture given at the meeting of the Senior University, fulfilling all the Mayo Clinic criteria of the TC. The longitudinal strain analysis with automated function imaging (AFI) documented severe impairment and stepwise recovery of regional and global LV contractility. The case described confirms that accurate diagnosis, treatment and documenting of functional improvement in takotsubo cardiomyopathy may enable the return to occupational activities even for elderly persons. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(4):681-683.

2017 ISHNE-HRS expert consensus statement on ambulatory ECG and external cardiac monitoring/telemetry.

Ambulatory ECG (AECG) is very commonly employed in a variety of clinical contexts to detect cardiac arrhythmias and/or arrhythmia patterns which are not readily obtained from the standard ECG. Accurate and timely characterization of arrhythmias is crucial to direct therapies that can have an important impact on diagnosis, prognosis or patient symptom status. The rhythm information derived from the large variety of AECG recording systems can often lead to appropriate and patient-specific medical and interventional management. The details in this document provide background and framework from which to apply AECG techniques in clinical practice, as well as clinical research.

2017 ISHNE-HRS expert consensus statement on ambulatory ECG and external cardiac monitoring/telemetry.

Ambulatory ECG (AECG) is very commonly employed in a variety of clinical contexts to detect cardiac arrhythmias and/or arrhythmia patterns which are not readily obtained from the standard ECG. Accurate and timely characterization of arrhythmias is crucial to direct therapies that can have an important impact on diagnosis, prognosis or patient symptom status. The rhythm information derived from the large variety of AECG recording systems can often lead to appropriate and patient-specific medical and interventional management. The details in this document provide background and framework from which to apply AECG techniques in clinical practice, as well as clinical research.

Evaluation of the impact of atmospheric pressure in different seasons on blood pressure in patients with arterial hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: Atmospheric pressure is the most objective weather factor because regardless of if outdoors or indoors it affects all objects in the same way. The majority of previous studies have used the average daily values of atmospheric pressure in a bioclimatic analysis and have found no correlation with blood pressure changes. The main objective of our research was to assess the relationship between atmospheric pressure recorded with a frequency of 1 measurement per minute and the results of 24-h blood pressure monitoring in patients with treated hypertension in different seasons in the moderate climate of the City of Lódz (Poland). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 1662 patients, divided into 2 equal groups (due to a lower and higher average value of atmospheric pressure). Comparisons between blood pressure values in the 2 groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: We observed a significant difference in blood pressure recorded during the lower and higher range of atmospheric pressure: on the days of the spring months systolic (p = 0.043) and diastolic (p = 0.005) blood pressure, and at nights of the winter months systolic blood pressure (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: A significant inverse relationship between atmospheric pressure and blood pressure during the spring days and, only for systolic blood pressure, during winter nights was observed. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(5):783-792.

Circumferential strain of carotid arteries does not differ between patients with advanced coronary artery disease and group without coronary stenoses.

PURPOSE: Speckle tracking echocardiography is widely used for the analysis of myocardial function. Recently, circumferential strain (CS) of carotid arteries was postulated as novel indicator of vascular function. Our aim was to characterize and compare CS of carotid arteries in patients with advanced coronary artery disease and controls without significant coronary stenoses. PATIENTS/METHODS: We compared CS of both common carotid arteries (CCA) in the 25 patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease (3VD) (mean age 69±9 years, 9 male) and in 16 age-matched subjects without significant coronary lesions (C) (69±8 years, 7 male). Additionally in 11 patients we estimated pulse wave velocity (PWV) and assessed the correlation between PWV and CS. Short-axis images of arteries were acquired for strain analysis with linear probe of echocardiograph. The assessment of CS was performed off-line by two observers. RESULTS: The intraobserver variability for the CS (coefficient of variation) were 4.9 and 5.4% for left and right CCA and interobserver variability were 11.7% and 12.5%, respectively. The mean CS for left and right CCA did not differ between compared groups. We did not find correlation between CS strain and PWV. The only difference was related to the more prevalent plaque presence and thicker intima-media complex (IMT) in 3VD (p=0.0039 for IMT of left CCA and p=0.016 for IMT of right CCA). CONCLUSIONS: The global CS of CCA, contrary to IMT, did not allow for differentiation between 3VD and C subjects. Despite good feasibility and concordance of CS measurements its clinical significance remains to be established.

Left Atrial Dysfunction Assessed by Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Patients with Impaired Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Sleep-Disordered Breathing.

AIMS: To evaluate the relationship between left atrial (LA) structure and deformation obtained by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE): peak longitudinal systolic strain (LAs), peak longitudinal systolic strain rate (LAS-SR), peak longitudinal early diastolic strain rate (LAE-SR), peak longitudinal late diastolic strain rate (LAA-SR), and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) estimated by means of apnea-hypopnea index (eAHI). METHODS: Thirty-two individuals with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (EF < 50%) were included in the study. LA function was assessed using 2DSTE. eAHI index was calculated by means of the 24-hour ambulatory Holter electrocardiogram monitoring. Patients were categorized into two subgroups: SDB group (eAHI ≥ 15; n = 15) and non-SDB group (eAHI < 15; n = 17). RESULTS: All 2DSTE parameters were decreased in the SDB group: LAS-SR (0.90 [0.60-1.25] 1/sec vs. 1.25 [1.00-1.27] 1/sec, P = 0.043), LAE-SR (-0.76 ± 0.49 1/sec vs. -1.18 ± 0.55 1/sec, P = 0.033), and LAA-SR (-1.26 ± 0.71 1/sec vs. -1.48 ± 0.75 1/sec, P = 0.049). The eAHI was negatively correlated with LA reservoir function: LAS (r = -0.53, P = 0.002) and LAS-SR (r = -0.47, P = 0.006), while it is positively correlated with LAE-SR (r = 0.67, P < 0.001) and LAA-SR (r = 0.46, P = 0.009). Moreover, SDB severity was an independent predictor of impaired LA compliance (P = 0.016) and conduit function (P = 0.002) in multivariate linear regression model, even after adjustment for age, BMI, gender, LV systolic (EF), and diastolic (E/e') function and comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: LA dysfunction and remodeling assessed using 2DSTE in patients with impaired systolic LV function, and IHD is influenced by the severity of sleep apnea independently from LV function.