Comparison of Effects of the Volume, Texture and Taste of Food on Tongue Pressure / 대한연하장애학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study examined how changes in the volume, texture, and taste of food affect the variation of tongue pressure during the swallowing of food in healthy adults. METHODS: Fifty-four healthy subjects participated in this study. The tongue pressure was measured using an Iowa Oral. Performance Instrument (IOPI) during swallowing of food in 54 healthy adults. The food bolus with modified volumes (3, 5, 10, and 15 ml), textures (water, puree, and cracker), and tastes (pure water, sour taste, sweet taste, and salty taste) were provided and the variation of the tongue pressure was traced during the swallowing of food. RESULTS: The tongue pressure changed significantly when the volume of food chunks increased. When the texture of food was modified, the tongue pressure was significantly different when swallowing a cracker than when swallowing water and puree. In addition, the tongue pressure was increased more by a sour taste liquid than pure water or sweet taste liquid. CONCLUSION: When swallowing food, the tongue pressure at the appropriate level is essential for safe swallowing. Because modification of the volume, texture, and taste of food can induce the variation of tongue pressure, it can be recommended as an effective therapeutic method that can move food in the mouth.

Current Awareness and Use of the Strain Echocardiography in Routine Clinical Practices: Result of a Nationwide Survey in Korea

BACKGROUND: Because conventional echocardiographic parameters have several limitations, strain echocardiography has often been introduced in clinical practice. However, there are also obstacles in using it in clinical practice. Therefore, we wanted to find the current status of awareness on using strain echocardiography in Korea. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide survey to evaluate current use and awareness of strain echocardiography from the members of the Korean Society of Echocardiography. RESULTS: We gathered total 321 questionnaires from 25 cardiology centers in Korea. All participants were able to perform or interpret echocardiographic examinations. All participating institutions performed strain echocardiography. Most of our study participants (97%) were aware of speckle tracking echocardiography and 185 (58%) performed it for clinical and research purposes. Two-dimensional strain echocardiography was the most commonly used modality and left ventricle (LV) was the most commonly used cardiac chamber (99%) for clinical purposes. Most of the participants (89%) did not think LV strain can replace LV ejection fraction (LVEF) in their clinical practice. The common reasons for not performing routine use of strain echocardiography was diversity of strain measurements and lack of normal reference value. Many participants had a favorable view of the future of strain echocardiography. CONCLUSION: Most of our study participants were aware of strain echocardiography, and all institutions performed strain echocardiography for clinical and research purposes. However, they did not think the LV strain values could replace LVEF. The diversity of strain measurements and lack of normal reference values were common reasons for not using strain echocardiography in clinical practice.

Antioxidative Activity after Rosuvastatin Treatment in Patients with Stable Ischemic Heart Disease and Decreased High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The clinical significance of statin-induced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) changes is not well known. We investigated whether rosuvastatin-induced HDL-C changes can influence the anti-oxidative action of high-density lipoprotein particle. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 240 patients with stable ischemic heart disease were studied. Anti-oxidative property was assessed by paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity. We compared the lipid profile and PON1 activity at baseline and at 8 weeks after rosuvastatin 10 mg treatment. RESULTS: Rosuvastatin treatment increased the mean HDL-C concentration by 1.9±9.2 mg/dL (6.4±21.4%). HDL-C increased in 138 patients (57.5%), but decreased in 102 patients (42.5%) after statin treatment. PON1 activity increased to 19.1% in all patients. In both, the patients with increased HDL-C and with decreased HDL-C, PON1 activity significantly increased after rosuvastatin treatment (+19.3% in increased HDL-C responder; p=0.018, +18.8% in decreased HDL-C responder; p=0.045 by paired t-test). Baseline PON1 activity modestly correlated with HDL-C levels (r=0.248, p=0.009); however, the PON1 activity evaluated during the course of the treatment did not correlate with HDL-C levels (r=0.153, p=0.075). CONCLUSION: Rosuvastatin treatment improved the anti-oxidative properties as assessed by PON1 activity, regardless of on-treatment HDL-C levels, in patients with stable ischemic heart disease.

Continuous Abstinence Rates from Smoking Over 12 Months according to the Frequency of Participation in a Hospital-based Smoking Cessation Program among Patients Discharged after Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the continuous abstinence rates from smoking at 12-month after a hospital-based smoking cessation program was applied for smokers hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Among those who are hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction from January 2012 to December 2013, ninety-eight smokers agreed to quit smoking were eligible for follow up to 12 months. Each of them underwent six consecutive sessions (first during admission, the other 5 sessions after discharge) of behavioral modification, counseling for withdrawal symptoms, and anti-smoking advices by a trained nurse. Exhaled carbon monoxide measurements less than 6 ppm were used to confirm the smoking cessation status of each participant. RESULTS: Mean age of all participants was 55.2±10.8 years old, and their continuous abstinence rates at 1, 3, 6, 12 months were 63.3%, 49.0%, 43.9%, and 37.8% for each. The continuous abstinence rate from smoking after 12 months was 69.7% and significantly higher in those who completed the 6 sessions than 21.5% in those who completed 5 sessions or less (P<0.001). After adjustment for general and smoking-related characteristics, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that full participation relative to 5 or less participation was significantly associated with higher continuous abstinence rate from smoking at 12 months (odds ratio: 7.96; 95% confidence interval: 2.07-30.55). CONCLUSIONS: The consistency of participating in a hospital-based smoking cessation program, described herein, significantly improved success rates of smoking cessation in patients discharged after acute myocardial infarction. Hospital-based smoking cessation program based on education and counseling should be included as an important part of patient management for acute myocardial infarction.

Effect of High Dose Rosuvastatin Loading before Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on Infarct Size in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: High dose rosuvastatin loading before percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) reduces the myocardial damage and the incidence of adverse cardiac events in patients with stable angina and acute coronary syndrome. However, no studies are present yet about rosuvastatin loading in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a primary PCI setting. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 475 patients who underwent primary PCI for STEMI were studied. The study population was divided into two groups with 208 patients in the statin group=40 mg rosuvastatin loading before primary PCI and 267 patients in the control group=no statin pretreatment. At median 3 days after PCI a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed with technetium 99m tetrofosmin For this study were compared infarct size, corrected Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count and the myocardial blush grade (MBG) between the both groups. RESULTS: Baseline clinical and procedural characteristics were similar between the groups. Infarct size, as assessed by SPECT, was significantly smaller (19.0+/-15.9% vs. 22.9+/-16.5%, p=0.009) in the statin group than in the control group. Patients of the statin group showed a lower corrected TIMI frame count (28.2+/-19.3 vs. 32.6+/-21.4, p=0.020), and higher MBG (2.49+/-0.76 vs. 2.23+/-0.96, p=0.001) than the patients of the control group. The multivariate analysis revealed that rosuvastatin loading {odds ratio (OR) 0.61}, pain to balloon time (OR 2.05), anterior myocardial infarction (OR 3.89) and final the MBG (OR 2.93) were independent predictors of a large infarct size. CONCLUSION: A high dose rosuvastatin loading before the primary PCI reduced the infarct size by microvascular myocardial perfusion improvement.

Erratum to: Effect of High Dose Rosuvastatin Loading before Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on Infarct Size in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

On page 76, reference no. 21 was inadvertently omitted.

Long-Term Predictors of Clinical Events after Off-Label Use of Drug-Eluting Stent beyond 1 Year

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the long-term outcomes and predictors of clinical events after off-label use of drug-eluting stents (DES) beyond 1 year after procedure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 518 patients who underwent DES implantation for off-label indications and did not have any major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during the first year were analyzed. The occurrence of MACE, including cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis and target vessel revascularization, were evaluated for a median 1179 days (interquartile range 769-1541) after the first year. RESULTS: Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 43 patients (8.3%) including 8 cases (1.5%) of cardiac death, 9 cases (1.7%) of MI, 24 cases (4.6%) of target vessel revascularization, and 11 cases (2.1%) of stent thrombosis. Patients with MACE had a higher serum creatinine level, higher incidence of in-stent restenosis lesion, more overlapping stents, a greater number of stents, and longer stents than did patients without MACE. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum creatinine level >1.5 mg/dL {hazard ratio (HR) 2.3, p=0.019}, stent length >33 mm (HR 2.4, p=0.035), and in-stent restenosis lesions (HR 2.4, p=0.040) were independent risk factors for MACE. Patients with DES length >33 mm had a higher incidence of MACE than those with DES length 33 mm was a significant procedural predictor associated with the incidence of MACE.

The Number of Endothelial Progenitor Cells is Decreased in Patients With Non-Dipper Hypertension

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a key role in the maintenance of endothelial homeostasis and promote vascular repair. A reduced number of EPCs and the functional activity have been associated with several cardiovascular risk factors. However, the relationship between the number of EPCs and circadian rhythm of the blood pressure (BP) remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the circadian rhythm of the BP and EPCs in patients with essential hypertension. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 45 patients with essential hypertension who were newly identified by outpatient BP measurements, underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring. Among the 45 patients with essential hypertension, 20 were classified as dippers (12 men and 8 women; mean age 48+/-14 years) and 25 as non-dippers (14 men and 11 women; mean age 52+/-18 years). The EPC count was isolated from the peripheral bloodstream and quantified by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The baseline clinical characteristics were similar between the dipper and non-dipper hypertensive patients. The circulating EPCs were statistically reduced in the non-dipper patients as compared to the dippers (104+/-60 vs. 66+/-47 EPCs per 106 mononuclear cells, p=0.027). The circulating EPC level correlated positively with the circadian changes in the systolic and diastolic BP (r=0.435, p=0.003, and r=0.310, p=0.038, respectively). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the EPC count was reduced in the peripheral bloodstream in non-dipper hypertensive patients.

Significance of Resting Heart Rate in Chronic Heart Failure: Data from Cardiac Insufficiency of Various Origin in Jeonbuk (CION-J) Registry

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. Raised resting heart rate (HR) is a marker of cardiovascular risk in general population, as well as in patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease. We studied the association between HR and cardiovascular events in patients with Cardiac Insufficiency of Various Origin in Jeonbuk (CION-J) registry. METHODS: CION-J registry was a multicenter, prospective database for chronic HF. From January 2010 to December 2010, 356 HF patients who clinically stabilized at least 2 weeks were analyzed. According to resting HR, the patients divided into the tertile (lower tertile 80/min, n = 113). Clinical outcomes during 6-month period were compared by resting HR. RESULTS: Patients with upper tertile revealed higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class than in those with lower tertile. From the lower to the upper tertile, the incidence of composite events of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and hospitalization for HF were increased(3.1%, 4.4%, 16.8%, respectively; p 80/min, and ejection fraction 80/min) is a prognostic factor in chronic HF. Optimal treatment to reduce HR should be emphasized to improve prognosis of HF.

Current Guidelines for Hypertension Control and Choice of Antihypertensive Drugs / 대한내과학회지

According to the mata-analysis on the management of hypertension and guidelines published in recent years concluded that the amount of blood pressure reduction, not the choice of antihypertensive drug is the major determinant of reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the both younger and older partients with hypertension. However still remained the some patients having an indication for a specific drug or drugs that is helpful to those of the patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure or atrial fibrillation. Thus, individualized, tailored drug therapy would be preferred to stepped care approach in the management of essential hypertension.

Effect of Previous Statin Therapy in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Statin therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been associated with reduced major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). However, it has been less clear as to whether statin therapy before acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is beneficial. We studied the effect of previous statin therapy, initiated > or =1 month before PCI, on the outcome of patients with ACS who had undergone early invasive strategies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We stratified 479 consecutive patients with ACS who had undergone PCI, according to preprocedural statin administration as follows: previous statin-treated patients (statin group, n=237) and statin-naive patients (control group, n=242). The incidence of periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) and in-hospital MACE was assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of Braunwald class III angina and MI presentation were significantly lower in the statin group than in the control group. Angiographic and procedural characteristics were similar between the two groups; however, slow/no reflow phenomenon occurred more frequently in the control group. After PCI, the incidence of periprocedural MI was higher in the control group than in the statin group (6.6% vs. 2.1%, p=0.016). Multivariate analysis revealed that no prior use of statin {odds ratio (OR)=2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1-7.2; p=0.038), procedural complication (OR=4.0; 95% CI=1.5-10.5; p=0.004), stent overlap (OR=4.7; 95% CI=1.3-16.4; p=0.015), and old age (OR=3.2; 95% CI=1.2-8.0; p=0.016) were independent predictors for in-hospital MACE. CONCLUSION: Previous statin therapy before ACS was associated with milder clinical presentation and lower incidence of in-hospital MACE after early invasive strategies. The beneficial outcome is attributable to a significant reduction in periprocedural MI after PCI.

Left Ventricular Thrombus Associated with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Cardioembolic Cause of Cerebral Infarction

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also called stress-induced cardiomyopathy, usually occurs in patients with severe emotional or physiologic stress. The prognosis is favorable, and the wall motion abnormlities normalize within weeks. However, stress-induced cardiomyopathy is rarely assosicated with left ventricular thrombus and thromboembolic complications. Here, we report a case of stress-induced cardiomyopathy with left ventricular thrombus that embolized to cause cerebral infarction.

Alteration of Ventricular Repolarization by Intracoronary Infusion of Normal Saline in Patients With Variant Angina

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: During coronary angiography and interventional procedures, catheters that are engaged in a coronary ostium are routinely flushed, typically with normal saline, to expel blood from the catheter or to inject a pharmacologic agent. Saline contains sodium and chloride ions. Such injections may affect the electrophysiologic properties of the myocardium; however, the effect of normal saline on ventricular repolarization has not been established in patients with variant angina. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 51 consecutive patients with variant angina. Five mL of normal saline (NS) or 5% dextrose solution (DW) were infused into the left coronary artery in random order. We measured the heart rate, QT interval, and T-wave amplitude using Mac-Lac 5.2. RESULTS: The baseline clinical characteristics were not different between the NS {n=30 (14 males); mean age, 56+/-10 years} and the 5% DW groups {n=21 (7 males); mean age, 59+/-10 years}. The changes in the mean corrected QT (QTc) interval were significantly increased at the time of infusion of NS compared to 5% DW (45.1+/-30.3 vs. 20.9+/-23.3 ms, p=0.004). There was a T-wave amplitude change >0.2 mV in at least one-lead in 27 patients (90.0%) during NS infusion compared to 7 patients (33.3%) during 5% DW infusions (p=0.001). No significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure were noted during of the infusions. CONCLUSION: NS was associated with prolongation of ventricular repolarization in patients with variant angina.

Clinical Significance of Reverse Redistribution Phenomenon on Delayed Tc-99m Tetrofosmin Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction / 핵의학분자영상

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the clinical significance of reverse redistribution (RR) phenomenon detected on delayed Tc-99m tetrofosmin myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with acute myocardial infarction after revascularization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Tc-99m tetrofrosmin myocardial SPECT was performed in 67 consecutive patients after revascularization for acute myocardial infarction. Myocardial SPECT imaging was performed for early imaging at 40 min and for delayed imaging at 180 min after reinjection at myocardial stress. Regional myocardial uptakes were scored by 4-point scoring in the left ventricular wall divided into 17 segments. Reverse redistribution was defined as an increase of more than 2 point in the activity score on the delayed image. Follow-up myocardial SPECT and coronary angiography (CAG) were performed 9 months later. RESULTS: On myocardial SPECT performed following revascularization, RR was observed in 100 of all 319 segments (31%) and in 43 patients (64%). The abnormalities of perfusion and regional wall motion were more severe in the patients with RR compared to those without RR (p<0.05). On follow-up myocardial SPECT, the myocardial perfusion, regional wall motion, and myocardial thickness were significantly improved in the patients with RR (p<0.05) however, these changes were not significant in those without RR. There was no significant difference between the patients with RR and those without RR in the occurrence of restenosis on CAG. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute myocardial infarction, the regions showing the RR phenomenon on delayed Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT may reflect viable myocardium and indicate recovery of salvaged myocardium.

Relationship between the Echocardiographic Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and Serum Adiponectin in Patients with Angina

BACKGROUND: It is still unknown whether increased cardiac adiposity is related to the risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD). We measured epicaridal adopose tissue (EAT) and mediastinal adipose tissue (MAT) using echocardiography and examined their correlations with CAD and serum adiponectin. METHODS: One hundred fifty three patients who underwent elective coronary angiography for chest pain were measured cardiac adiposity by transthoracic echocardiography. The correlations of cardiac adipose tissue with the presence and severity of CAD and the serum adiponectin level were examined. RESULTS: EAT was thicker in patients with CAD (1.8+/-1.4 vs. 3.8+/-1.9 mm, p<0.001), but MAT was not different according to the presence of CAD (2.9+/-2.8 vs. 3.5+/-2.5 mm, p=0.121). EAT showed a significant positive correlation with age (r=0.225, p=0.005), homocystein (r=0.289, p=0.001), fasting glucose (r=0.167, p=0.042), and fibrinogen (r=0.218, p=0.009), and a significant negative correlation with serum adiponectin (r=-0.194, p=0.016). EAT thickness (OR 11.53, 95% CI; 3.61-36.84, p<0.001) and low serum adiponectin (OR 2.88, 95% CI; 1.02-8.15, p=0.046) were independent predictors of obstructive CAD. However, MAT thickness was not associated with CAD. CONCLUSION: EAT was associated with the severity and risk factors of CAD and correlated with serum adiponectin level. In contrast with EAT, MAT was not associated with CAD and adiponectin.

Cardioprotective Effects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Myocardial Reperfusion Injury: Suppression of Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase play an important role in the development of myocardial reperfusion injury. In this study, we examined whether treatment with alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) before reperfusion could prevent myocardial reperfusion injury in vivo. Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a 45-minute left anterior descending coronary artery ligation followed by 45- or 10-minute reperfusion. ALA was administered 10 minutes prior to reperfusion. The infarct size ratio of the infarct area to the ischemic area at risk, was measured based on 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg of ALA, with propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence. Apoptosis was evaluated by TdT-mediated dUDP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The generation of intracellular ROS was evaluated using the fluorogenic probe, dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (CM-H2DCFDA). Western blot analysis was performed for MAP kinase (pERK 1/2 and pJNK 1/2) activity. RESULTS: The infarct size, according to ALA dose, was significantly suppressed 29.1% with ALA 25 mg/kg (p<0.0001), 41.5% with 50 mg/kg (p<0.05), and 41.4% with 100 mg/kg (p<0.05) compared to the controls (54.3%). However, the results were not significantly different with 47.2% of the ALA 10 mg/kg (p=0.192). A few apoptotic nucleoli were detected in the ALA 25 mg/kg group, but were frequently detected in the control group. The ROS generation was significantly suppressed (p<0.0001), the activity of pERK 1/2 was significantly increased (p<0.05) and the activity of pJNK 1/2 was significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the ALA 25 mg/kg group compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that adequate doses of ALA before reperfusion was effective for the prevention of myocardial reperfusion injury in vivo. This cardioprotective activity of ALA might be associated with an anti-apoptotic effect of ALA via suppression of ROS generation, increase of pERK 1/2 and decrease of pJNK 1/2 activity.

Clinical Significance of On-Treatment Triglyceride Level in Patients Treated by Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of statins in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has increased, and reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lead to lower coronary event rates. We studied the effect of lipid levels during statin treatment on prognosis in patients with ACS and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Between January 2005 and May 2007, 325 ACS patients who underwent PCI and received statins were evaluated. We measured serum lipid levels at baseline and 4 weeks. The relationships between on-treatment levels of triglyceride (TG) and LDL-C and one-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were assessed. RESULTS: At 4 weeks, the mean LDL-C level was 72.5+/-23.8 mg/dL and the mean TG was 123.2+/-62.8 mg/dL. MACE occurred in 41 cases (12.6%). Baseline serum lipid levels were similar between the patients with and those without MACE. However, the patients with MACE showed significantly higher TG level at 4 weeks (149.6+/-81.4 vs. 119.3+/-58.9 mg/dL, p=0.026) than those without. High on-treatment TG level (> or =150 mg/dL) were associated with increased adverse events compared to lower TG level in a univariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 3.3; p or =150 mg/dL) was associated with a higher risk of MACE. This finding supports the concept that achieving low TG levels may be an important therapeutic parameter in statin-treated patients following ACS and PCI.

Effect of Early Statin Therapy on Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells During the Acute Phase in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mobilization of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) might represent a useful strategy for the clinical therapy of ischemic heart disease. We examined the effect of early statin therapy before reperfusion therapy on the circulating EPCs during the acute phase in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 84 consecutive AMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 24 hours of pain onset were included in this study. We randomly divided the patients into 3 groups according to rosuvastatin therapy before PCI: the control group (n:27, 19 males and 8 females, 58+/-2 years of age), the rosuvastatin 10 mg group (n: 28, 21 males and 7 females, 58+/-3 years of age) and the 40 mg group (n: 29, 23 males and 6 females, 59+/-2 years of age). The circulating EPCs and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were analyzed on admission and at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 30 days after PCI. The circulating EPCs were measured by flow cytometry as the CD45(low)CD34+VEGFR2+ cells. RESULTS: The circulating EPCs peaked on day 3 after PCI, whereas the increment of circulating EPCs was significantly suppressed in the rosuvastatin 10 mg and 40 mg groups compared with the control group on day 3 (control vs rosuvastatin 10 mg vs rosuvastatin 40 mg: 0.072% vs 0.067% vs 0.061%, respectively, p=0.002) and day 5 (0.068% vs 0.060% vs 0.058%, respectively, p=0.029). The level of hs-CRP markedly increased from day 1 and this peaked on day 3 after PCI. Early statin therapy significantly suppressed the elevation of hs-CRP compared with the control group on day 1 (24.36 mg/L vs 17.88 mg/L vs 13.08 mg/L, respectively, p=0.035) and on day 3 (30.15 mg/L vs 22.78 mg/L vs 17.16 mg/L, respectively, p=0.034). There was a statistically significant correlation between the circulating EPCs and the hs-CRP (r=0.349, p=0.007). CONCLUSION: In the AMI patients, the early stain therapy before reperfusion therapy didn't increase the mobilization of circulating EPCs, but it suppressed the elevation of hs-CRP. This data suggests that the mobilization of circulating EPCs may be related to systemic inflammation during the acute phase in patients with AMI.

The Effect of Hyperglycemia Induced by Oral Glucose Loading on Coronary Flow Reserve

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic diabetes mellitus (DM) have an increased risk of cardiac dysfunction and mortality. There is some evidence that suggests acute hyperglycemia may cause vascular dysfunction. However, it is unknown whether acute, short-term hyperglycemia affects coronary microcirculation function in healthy subjects. The present study was undertaken to explore this issue. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 20 healthy males who had no history of DM or impaired glucose tolerance, ranging in age from 23 to 36 years (25.9+/-3.3 years). We checked blood sugar, 12-lead electrocardiography, pulse wave velocity, and coronary flow reserve using echocardiography during fasting, and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after ingestion of 75 g of glucose orally. RESULTS: Non-significant prolongation of the QTc dispersion was observed after the 75 g glucose loading. No significant difference in the pulse wave velocity of the carotid-to-femoral artery, carotid-to-radial artery, or femoral-to-dorsalis pedis artery was observed after the 75 g glucose loading. There was a significant reduction in the coronary flow reserve at 60 (4.06+/-0.75 vs. 3.54+/-0.82, p=0.021) and 90 minutes (4.06+/-0.75 vs. 3.59+/-0.63, p=0.021) after the 75 g glucose loading compared to that on fasting. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that acute exposure to high circulating glucose levels does not affect heterogeneity of the ventricular repolarization or arterial stiffness, but it does reduce the coronary flow reserve in healthy young men.

Effect of Additional Statin Therapy on Endothelial Function and Prognosis in Patients With Vasospastic Angina

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vasospastic angina is correlated with endothelial dysfunction. We compared endothelial function using flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) between patients with vasospasm and those without vasospasm and studied the effect of statin therapy on the changes of FMD and EPCs in vasospastic angina patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 133 patients who underwent an ergonovine provocation test, endothelial function was compared based on the presence or absence of spasm. The patients with coronary artery spasm (74 patients) were randomly assigned to either the 10 mg rosuvastatin group or the placebo group. We compared changes in the FMD and EPCs level for 6 months from the time of enrollment between the two groups. RESULTS: The incidence of cigarette smokers was higher in vasospastic angina patients than in those without spasm (p<0.001). The number of EPCs (68.6+/-36.1 vs. 103.7+/-39.3/200 microliter, p<0.001) and the FMD (7.1+/-4.5 vs. 8.6+/-3.6%, p=0.044) were significantly lower in patients with coronary artery spasm than in those without spasm. After 6 months of rosuvastatin treatment, the number of CD45(low)CD34(+) vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)(+) cells, which was defined as EPCs, increased significantly from 73.1+/-37.8/200 microliter to 99.1+/-37.8/200 microliter (p=0.002). The FMD was significantly ameliorated from 7.3+/-4.1 to 9.3+/-3.4% after 6 months of treatment (p<0.001). The FMD was correlated with the EPCs count before treatment (r=0.229, p=0.049) and after 6 months of treatment (r=0.268, p=0.020). CONCLUSION: The number of circulating EPCs and the FMD were reduced in vasospastic angina, and statin treatment increased the number of EPCs and the FMD. The EPCs level was correlated with the FMD.