Pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 concentrations correlate with coronary artery disease atheroma burden in a Pakistani cohort with chronic chest pain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) levels and atheroma burden in Pakistanis presenting to an ambulatory centre with chest pain. METHODS: A prospective matched case-control study of 400 patients selected for presence/absence of angiographic disease referred between 2001 and 2003. A comprehensive cardiovascular disease risk factor profile was assessed including demographics, environmental and biochemical risk factors including insulin resistance and PCSK-9 levels. Coronary atheroma burden was quantified by Gensini score. RESULTS: In this population, PCSK-9 levels were weakly correlated (r = 0.23) with male gender (p = 0.06) and number of diabetes years (p = 0.09), and inversely with log10 of lipoprotein (a) concentration (p = 0.07) but not LDL-C. In multiple regression analysis, Gensini score was associated with age (p = 0.002), established angina (p = 0.001), duration of diabetes (p = 0.05), low HDL-C (p < 0.001), lipoprotein (a) (p = 0.01), creatinine (p < 0.001), C-Reactive Protein (p = 0.02) and PSCK-9 (p = 0.05) concentrations. PCSK9 added to the regression model. Neither total cholesterol nor LDL-C were significant risk factors in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 concentrations are correlated with atheroma burden in Indian Asian populations from the sub-continent, not taking statin therapy, independent of LDL-C or other CVD risk factors.

p38 MAPK in cardioprotection - are we there yet?

PKs transfer a phosphate from ATP to the side-chain hydroxyl group of a serine, threonine or tyrosine residue of a substrate protein. This in turn can alter that protein's function; modulating fundamental cellular processes including, metabolism, transcription, growth, division, differentiation, motility and survival. PKs are subdivided into families based on homology. One such group are the stress-activated kinases, which as the name suggests, are activated in response to cellular stresses such as toxins, cytokines, mechanical deformation and osmotic stress. Members include the p38 MAPK family, which is composed of α, ß, γ and δ, isoforms which are encoded by separate genes. These kinases transduce extracellular signals and coordinate the cellular responses needed for adaptation and survival. However, in cardiovascular and other disease states, these same systems can trigger maladaptive responses that aggravate, rather than alleviate, the disease. This situation is analogous to adrenergic, angiotensin and aldosterone signalling in heart failure, where inhibition is beneficial despite the importance of these hormones to homeostasis. The question is whether similar benefits could accrue from p38 inhibition? In this review, we will discuss the structure and function of p38, the history of p38 inhibitors and their use in preclinical studies. Finally, we will summarize the results of recent cardiovascular clinical trials with p38 inhibitors.

Angiographic coronary artery disease and high-sensitivity troponin-T in a native Pakistani cohort presenting with chronic chest pain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between troponin-T levels and atheroma burden in Pakistanis presenting to an ambulatory centre with chest pain. METHODS: A prospective case-control study of 400 patients selected for presence/absence of angiographic disease referred between 2001 and 2003. A comprehensive cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor profile was assessed including demographics, environmental and biochemical risk factors including insulin resistance and troponin-T levels. Coronary atheroma burden was quantified by Gensini score. RESULTS: Clinically significant elevated troponin-T levels (> 30 pmol/l) were found in 40 patients (10%) with equal numbers in groups selected with or without angiographic disease. Troponin-T elevation (> 13 pmol/l) was present in 59 vs. 47 patients (30% vs. 24%; p = 0.04). Troponin-T levels did not correlate with any measured demographical, environmental, drug therapy or biochemical risk factor. No difference was found in concentrations of lipids, apolipoproteins, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein or sialic acid in cohorts stratified by troponin-T concentrations. In univariate analysis comparing patients with high (> 30 pmol/l) and low troponin-T levels (< 13 pmol/l) higher plasma total protein (91 g/l vs. 85 g/l; p = 0.01), increased immunoglobulin levels (41 g/l vs. 36 g/l; p = 0.02) and prevalence of hyperparathyroidism (40% vs. 21%; p = 0.04) were associated with higher troponin-T concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that measurement of troponin-T is not an alternative to imaging in an Indian asian population, but that it does identify a separate potentially high-risk population that would not be identified by the use of imaging alone which is potentially at higher risk of CVD events.

Detection of intracoronary thrombus by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Persistent intracoronary thrombus after plaque rupture is associated with an increased risk of subsequent myocardial infarction and mortality. Coronary thrombus is usually visualized invasively by x-ray coronary angiography. Non-contrast-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been useful for direct imaging of carotid thrombus and intraplaque hemorrhage by taking advantage of the short T1 of methemoglobin present in acute thrombus and intraplaque hemorrhage. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of non-contrast-enhanced MR for direct thrombus imaging (MRDTI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighteen patients (14 men; age, 61±9 years) underwent MRDTI within 24 to 72 hours of presenting with an acute coronary syndrome before invasive x-ray coronary angiography; MRDTI was performed with a T1-weighted, 3-dimensional, inversion-recovery black-blood gradient-echo sequence without contrast administration. Ten patients were found to have intracoronary thrombus on x-ray coronary angiography (left anterior descending, 4; left circumflex, 2; right coronary artery, 4; and right coronary artery-posterior descending artery, 1), and 8 had no visible thrombus. We found that MRDTI correctly identified thrombus in 9 of 10 patients (sensitivity, 91%; posterior descending artery thrombus not detected) and correctly classified the control group in 7 of 8 patients without thrombus formation (specificity, 88%). The contrast-to-noise ratio was significantly greater in coronary segments containing thrombus (n=10) compared with those without visible thrombus (n=131; mean contrast-to-noise ratio, 15.9 versus 2.6; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Use of MRDTI allows selective visualization of coronary thrombus in a patient population with a high probability of intracoronary thrombosis.

A prospective case-controlled cohort study of endothelial function in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: There is well-documented evidence that patients with moderate and severe psoriasis have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). While this risk can, at least in part, be attributed to the high prevalence of traditional risk factors in the population with psoriasis, some epidemiological evidence suggests it may be independent of these. OBJECTIVES: This prospective, case-controlled study investigates whether psoriasis is a risk factor for CVD using two, validated, sensitive markers of CVD, endothelial dysfunction and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). METHODS: Patients were recruited from a tertiary referral psoriasis clinic and exclusion criteria included established CVD and/or conventional risks for CVD. Preclinical CVD was assessed using flow-mediated brachial artery dilatation, which measures endothelial dysfunction, and hsCRP, a serological marker of atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients (22%) out of a total of 285 consecutive patients attending the severe psoriasis clinic were entered into the study. One hundred and sixty-one (56%) were excluded following identification of cardiovascular risk; 39 of the 161 (24%) had at least two cardiovascular risk factors. A further 16 (6%) patients were excluded because of established CVD. No statistically significant difference in endothelial dysfunction was observed between patients with psoriasis (n = 60) and healthy controls (n = 117) (P = 0·508). The hsCRP level was, however, significantly elevated in the psoriasis group (2·828 mg L(-1), SEM 0·219; controls 0·728 mg L(-1), SEM 0·142; P < 0·05). CONCLUSION: This large, investigative study is the first to assess endothelial function in patients with psoriasis after exclusion of traditional risk factors for CVD. These data suggest that psoriasis per se is not a risk factor for CVD and that elevated hsCRP is possibly independent of atheroma risk. There was a high prevalence of traditional risk factors in our population with severe psoriasis.

Insulin resistance phenotypes and coronary artery disease in a native Pakistani cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and atheroma burden in Pakistanis. METHODS: A prospective case-control study of 400 patients selected for the presence/absence of angiographic disease. Coronary atheroma burden was quantified and IR and cardiovascular risk factors were measured. RESULTS: The patients were divided into two groups by QuickI score. Waist circumference (90 +/- 10 vs. 90 +/- 9 cm; p = 0.7) was similar but the groups differed in body mass index (26.5 +/- 3.7 vs. 24.2 +/- 3.5 kg/m(2); p < 0.001) and waist:hip ratio (0.94 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.90 +/- 0.06; p < 0.001). Lipid parameters showed similar high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (0.77 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.82 +/- 0.22 mmol/l; p = 0.1) differences in triglycerides [1.32 (0.08-3.98) vs. 1.12 (0.37-3.61) mmol/l; p = 0.01], but no difference in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (2.75 +/- 1.00 vs. 2.90 +/- 0.94 mmol/l; p = 0.14). In insulin-resistant patients C-reactive protein (CRP) [6.8 (0.3-175.1) vs. 3.9 (0.2-57.9) mg/l: p < 0.001], sialic acid (82 +/- 14 vs. 77 +/- 15 mg/l; p < 0.001) aspartate transaminase [24 (7-171) vs. 21 (7-83) IU/l; p < 0.001] and gamma-glutamyl transferase [27 (8-482) vs. 21 (7-168) IU/l; p = 0.005] levels were increased. In insulin-resistant patients (n = 187), coronary artery disease (CAD) burden correlated (r = 0.55) with age (beta = 1.62; p < 0.001), HDL-C (beta = -53.2; p < 0.001), lipoprotein (a) (beta = 11.4; p = 0.007), smoking (beta = 7.98; p = 0.004), CRP (beta = 6.06; p = 0.03) and QuickI index (beta = -146; p = 0.04). In contrast in insulin-sensitive patients (n = 178) CAD burden (r = 0.46) correlated with LDL-C (beta = 10.0; p = 0.02), CRP (beta = 7.13; p = 0.03), HDL-C (beta = -38.1; p = 0.03), and weakly with age (beta = 0.73; p = 0.07) and smoking (beta = 5.52; p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Indian Asians show a dichotomous insulin-resistance phenotype. Atheroma is associated with low HDL-C and inflammation associated in all but LDL-C is a factor in the insulin sensitive in contrast to age and extent of IR in the insulin resistant.

Stem cells to repair the broken heart: much ado about nothing?

The long promised benefits of using stem cells for myocardial repair are still awaited.

Enhanced vascular responses to adrenomedullin in mice overexpressing receptor-activity-modifying protein 2.

Adrenomedullin (AM) levels are elevated in cardiovascular disease, but little is known of the role of specific receptor components. AM acts via the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) interacting with a receptor-activity-modifying protein (RAMP). The AM1 receptor is composed of CLR and RAMP2, and the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor of CLR and RAMP1, as determined by molecular and cell-based analysis. This study examines the relevance of RAMP2 in vivo. Transgenic (TG) mice that overexpress RAMP2 in smooth muscle were generated. The role of RAMP2 in the regulation of blood pressure and in vascular function was investigated. Basal blood pressure, acute angiotensin II-raised blood pressure, and cardiovascular properties were similar in wild-type (WT) and TG mice. However, the hypotensive effect of IV AM, unlike CGRP, was enhanced in TG mice (P<0.05), whereas a negative inotropic action was excluded by left-ventricular pressure-volume analysis. In aorta relaxation studies, TG vessels responded in a more sensitive manner to AM (EC50, 8.0+/-1.5 nmol/L) than WT (EC50, 17.9+/-3.6 nmol/L). These responses were attenuated by the AM receptor antagonist, AM(22-52), such that residual responses were identical in all mice. Remaining relaxations were further inhibited by CGRP receptor antagonists, although neither affected AM responses when given alone. Mesenteric and cutaneous resistance vessels were also more sensitive to AM in TG than WT mice. Thus RAMP2 plays a key role in the sensitivity and potency of AM-induced hypotensive responses via the AM1 receptor, providing evidence that this receptor is a selective target for novel therapeutic approaches.

Metabolic syndrome and risk of coronary heart disease in a Pakistani cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relation of the metabolic insulin resistance syndrome (M-IRS) with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Pakistani patients. SUBJECTS: 200 patients with angiographic disease (CHD(+)) matched with 200 patients with chest pain without occlusive disease (CHD(-)). DESIGN: Prospective case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary referral cardiology unit in Pakistan. RESULTS: M-IRS was present in 37% of CHD(+) versus 27% of CHD(-) patients by criteria for white patients or 47% versus 42%, respectively, by Asian criteria (p < 0.001). After adjustment for other risk factors, M-IRS was not a significant predictor for CHD or angiographic disease. Age (p = 0.03), smoking (p < 0.001), diabetes-years (p = 0.003), sialic acid (p = 0.01), and creatinine (p = 0.008) accounted for the excess risk of CHD. Similarly, age (p = 0.005), creatinine (p < 0.001), cigarette pack-years (p = 0.02), diabetes-years (p = 0.003), and sialic acid (p = 0.08) were predictors of greater angiographic disease. M-IRS differed between Pakistani and white patients, as waist circumference correlated weakly (r = -0.03-0.08, p = 0.45-0.52) with triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, or glucose. Sialic acid was the only inflammatory marker associated with M-IRS. CONCLUSIONS: Despite strong associations between individual risk factors associated with M-IRS and a univariate association between M-IRS and CHD in native Pakistanis, the principal discriminant risk factors in this group are age, smoking, inflammation, diabetes-years, and impaired renal function. The poor sensitivity of M-IRS for CHD reflects the high underlying prevalence of M-IRS, thus reducing sensitivity, confounding by other urban lifestyle traits, or a lack of association of waist circumference with M-IRS risk factors. The definition of M-IRS may have to be revised to increase its power as a discriminant risk factor for CHD in Pakistani populations.

Late opening of the infarct related artery: an open or shut case?

Is there a place for the late opening of infarct related arteries, beyond the time window for myocardial salvage?

Cardioprotection mediated by urocortin is dependent on PKCepsilon activation.

Urocortin (Ucn) is an endogenous cardioprotective agent that protects against the damaging effects of ischemia and reperfusion injury in vitro and in vivo. We have found that the mechanism of action of Ucn involves both acute activation of specific target molecules, and using Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA) gene chip technology, altered gene expression of different end effector molecules. Here, from our gene chip data, we show that after a 24 h exposure to Ucn, there was a specific increase in mRNA and protein levels of the protein kinase C epsilon (PKCepsilon) isozyme in primary rat cardiomyocytes compared with untreated cells and in the Langendorff perfused ex vivo heart. Furthermore, a short 10 min exposure of these cells to Ucn caused a specific translocation/activation of PKCepsilon in vitro and in the Langendorff perfused ex vivo heart. The importance of the PKCepsilon isozyme in cardioprotection and its relationship to cardioprotection produced by Ucn was assessed using PKCepsilon-specific inhibitor peptides. The inhibitor peptide, when introduced into cardiomyocytes, caused an increase in apoptotic cell death compared with control peptide after ischemia and reperfusion. When the inhibitor peptide was present with Ucn, the cardioprotective effect of Ucn was lost. This loss of cardioprotection by Ucn was also seen in whole hearts from PKCepsilon knockout mice. These findings indicate that the cardioprotective effect of Ucn is dependent upon PKCepsilon.

Infarct zone viability influences ventricular remodelling after late recanalisation of an occluded infarct related artery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of infarct zone viability on remodelling after late recanalisation of an occluded infarct related artery. METHODS: A subgroup of 26 volunteers from TOAT (the open artery trial) underwent dobutamine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance at baseline to assess the amount of viable myocardium present with follow up to assess remodelling at one year. TOAT studied patients with left ventricular dysfunction after anterior myocardial infarction (MI) associated with isolated proximal occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery with randomisation to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent at 3.6 weeks after MI (PCI group) or to medical treatment alone (medical group). RESULTS: In the PCI group there was a significant relation between the number of viable segments within the infarct zone and improvement in end systolic volume index (-7.7 ml/m2, p = 0.02) and increased ejection fraction (4.1%, p = 0.03). The relation between viability and improvements in end diastolic volume index (-8.8 ml/m2, p = 0.08) and mass index (-6.3 g/m2, p = 0.01) did not reach significance (p = 0.27 and p = 0.8, respectively). In the medical group, there was no significant relation between the number of viable segments in the infarct zone and the subsequent changes in end diastolic (p = 0.84) and end systolic volume indices (p = 0.34), ejection fraction (p = 0.1), and mass index (p = 0.24). CONCLUSION: The extent of viable myocardium in the infarct zone is related to improvements in left ventricular remodelling in patients who undergo late recanalisation of an occluded infarct related artery.

Ischaemic preconditioning and myocardial adaptation to serial intracoronary balloon inflation: cut from the same cloth?

Elective percutaneous coronary intervention fulfils many of the criteria needed of a clinical model of ischaemic preconditioning. But is this really a reflection of the laboratory phenomenon of ischaemic preconditioning?

Myocardial gene and cell delivery.

Although we now have the tools to introduce vectors and stem cells into specific myocardial locations, these devices are yet to be matched by comparable advances in molecular virology, cell biology, and our understanding of the pathophysiology of ischaemic heart disease

Myocardial contrast echocardiography is superior to other known modalities for assessing myocardial reperfusion after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Angiographic flow measurements do not define perfusion accurately at a microvascular level, so other techniques which assess flow at a tissue level are to be preferred. OBJECTIVES: To compare intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) with other methods of assessing microvascular reperfusion for their ability to predict left ventricular function at one month after acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN: 15 patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction, with restoration of TIMI grade 3 flow. Corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC), myocardial blush grade (MBG), and percentage ST segment resolution at 90 and 180 minutes were recorded. Baseline regional wall motion score index (WMSI) and regional contrast score index (RCSI) were obtained 12-24 hours after the procedure, with a final regional WMSI assessment at one month. RESULTS: Mean (SD) cTFC was 27 (9.4), and ST segment resolution was 69 (22)% at 90 minutes and 77 (20)% at 180 minutes. MBG values were 0 in six patients, 2 in two, and 3 in seven. Baseline regional WMSI, RCSI, and follow up WMSI were 2.7 (0.71), 1.5 (0.71), and 1.6 (0.73), respectively. The correlation coefficient between RCSI and follow up WMSI was 0.82 (p = 0.0012). Peak CK correlated with follow up WMSI (R = 0.80). None of the other reperfusion assessment techniques correlated significantly with follow up WMSI. Multiple regression analysis showed that a perfused hypokinetic or akinetic segment was 50 times more likely to recover function than a non-perfused segment. MCE predicted segmental myocardial recovery with a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 74%, and positive and negative predictive values of 83% and 81%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MCE is currently the best and most accurate measure of reperfusion at a microvascular level and an excellent predictor of left ventricular function at one month following acute myocardial infarction.

Antiarrhythmic and anti-ischaemic effects of angina in patients with and without coronary collaterals.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the changes in the manifestations of myocardial ischaemia during sequential angina episodes caused by exercise or coronary artery occlusion are collateral dependent. METHODS: 40 patients awaiting percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for an isolated left anterior descending artery stenosis underwent three sequential treadmill exercise tests, with the second exertion separated from the first by 15 minutes, and from the third by 90 minutes; 28 patients subsequently completed two (> 180 s) sequential intracoronary balloon inflations with measurement of collateral flow index from mean coronary artery wedge, aortic, and coronary sinus pressures. RESULTS: On second compared with first exercise, time to 0.1 mV ST depression (mean (SD): 340 (27) v 266 (25) s) and rate-pressure product at 0.1 mV ST depression (22 068 (725) v 19 586 (584) beats/min/mm Hg) were increased (all p < 0.005), while angina and ventricular ectopic beat frequency were diminished (p < 0.05). This advantage, which had waned by the third effort, was independent of collateral flow index. Similarly, at the end of the second compared with the first coronary occlusion, ventricular tachycardia (21% v 0%, p < 0.05), ST elevation (0.47 (0.07) v 0.33 (0.05) mV, p < 0.005), and angina severity (6.1 (0.7) v 4.6 (0.7) units, p < 0.005) were reduced despite similar collateral flow indices. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with coronary artery disease, ventricular arrhythmias, ST deviation, and angina are reduced during a second exertion or during a second coronary occlusion. This protective effect can occur independently of collateral recruitment. These characteristics, together with the breadth and temporal pattern of protection, are consistent with ischaemic preconditioning.