Blood count parameters can predict the severity of coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Because of the inflammatory nature of coronary artery disease (CAD), both platelets and white blood cells have been investigated for years. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between some prominently hematologic blood count parameters (mean platelet volume [MPV], neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio [NLR]) and the severity of CAD by using Gensini scores. METHODS: A total of 194 patients, who had undergone coronary angiography, enrolled in this study. The control group consisted of 42 patients who had normal coronary arteries. Remaining CAD patients were divided into two groups according to their Gensini scores. RESULTS: NLR and MPV were higher in the severe atherosclerosis group compared with the mild atherosclerosis group (p = 0.007, p = 0.005, respectively). The Gensini score showed significant correlations with NLR (r = 0.20, p = 0.011), MPV (r = 0.23, p = 0.004) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -0.161, p = 0.047). Using a cut-off level of 2.54, NLR predicted severe atherosclerosis with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 53% (area under curve [AUC], 0.627; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.545 to 0.704; p = 0.004). MPV values above 10.4 predicted severe atherosclerosis with a sensitivity of 39% and specificity of 90% (AUC, 0.631; 95% CI, 0.549 to 0.708; p = 0.003). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, high levels of NLR (odds ratio [OR], 1.450; 95% CI, 1.080 to 1.945; p = 0.013) and MPV (OR, 1.622; 95% CI, 1.147 to 2.295; p = 0.006) were found to be independent predictors of severe atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that both NLR and MPV are predictors of severe atherosclerosis and may be used for the prediction and identification of cardiac risks in CAD patients.

Relationship of anxiety and burnout with extrasystoles in critical care nurses in Turkey

Objective: To determine the relationship between levels of anxiety and burnout and prevalence of atrial extrasystoles [AESs] and ventricular extrasystoles [VESs] among critical care nurses

Methods: The sample of study included 51 nurses who worked in the intensive care units of a university hospital located in western Turkey. Beck's Anxiety Inventory and the Maslach Burnout Inventory were used in the study

Results: The mean emotional exhaustion score of the nurses was 14.68 +/- 6.10, the mean personal accomplishment score was 19.19 +/- 7.08, the mean depersonalization score was 5.31 +/- 3.84 and the mean anxiety score was 12.37 +/- 11.12. The rates of VESs and AESs detected in the critical care nurses were 21.6% and 35.3%, respectively. No relationship was found between levels of anxiety and burnout and the prevalence of AESs and VESs among the critical care nurses. A positive correlation was found between personal accomplishment scores and numbers of VESs [r= 0.693, p=0.001] and AESs [r= 0.700, p= 0.001]

Conclusion: In the present study, there were low mean scores of burnout and anxiety among nurses working in intensive care units. No relationship was found between levels of anxiety and burnout and the prevalence of AESs and VESs among nurses who work in intensive care units. It was found that the people feeling more personal accomplishment have more VES or AES. The prevalence of AESs and VESs among the critical care nurses suffering from burnout and anxiety may be studied in the future studies

Influence of preoperative coronary collateral circulation on in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery with intra-aortic balloon pump support / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Outcomes in patients requiring coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have been improved with devices such as the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Good coronary collateral circulation (CCC) has been shown to reduce mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to investigate whether poor preoperative CCC grade is a predictor of in-hospital mortality in CABG surgery requiring IABP support.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-five consecutive patients who were undergoing isolated first time on-pump CABG surgery with IABP support were enrolled into this study and CCC of those patients was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-seven patients had poor CCC and 28 patients had good CCC. In-hospital mortality rate in poor CCC group was significantly higher than good CCC group (14 (50%) vs. 4 (13%), P = 0.013). Preoperative hemoglobin level (OR: 0.752; 95% CI, 0.571-0.991, P = 0.043), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 6.731; 95% CI, 1.159-39.085, P = 0.034) and poor CCC grade (OR: 5.750; 95% CI, 1.575±20.986, P = 0.008) were associated with post-CABG in-hospital mortality. Poor CCC grade (OR: 4.853; 95% CI, 1.124-20.952, P = 0.034) and preoperative hemoglobin level (OR: 0.624; 95% CI, 0.476-0.954, P = 0.026) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality after CABG.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Preoperative poor CCC and hemoglobin are predictors of in-hospital mortality after CABG with IABP support.</p>