Efficacy of acupuncture on cardiovascular complications in patients with diabetes mellitus in Korea: A nationwide retrospective cohort / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#The main aim of this study is to investigate whether acupuncture could be an effective complementary treatment for reducing the risk of macrovascular complications in diabetic patients currently taking antidiabetic medications using a nationwide population-based database.@*METHODS@#We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess the efficacy of acupuncture on cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients using data from patients between 40 and 79 years of age, newly diagnosed with diabetes between 2003 and 2006, found in the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) in Korea. From the data, we identified 21,232 diabetic patients who were taking antidiabetic medication between 2003 and 2006. The selected patients were divided into two groups-those who received acupuncture at least three times and those who received no acupuncture (non-acupuncture) in the year following their diagnosis of diabetes. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), each group had 3350 patients, and the observation ceased at the occurrence of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), which was defined as either myocardial infarction, stroke, or death due to cardiovascular cause.@*RESULTS@#After PSM, the acupuncture group had a lower incidence of MACE (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81-0.94; P = 0.0003) and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.70-0.84; P < 0.0001) than the non-acupuncture group; the HRs for stroke-related mortality (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.56-1.00; P = 0.0485), ischemic heart disease mortality (HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.34-0.84; P = 0.006) and circulatory system disease mortality (HR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.55-0.82; P < 0.0001) were lower in the acupuncture group than in the non-acupuncture group in the secondary analysis.@*CONCLUSION@#Our results indicate that diabetic patients receiving acupuncture treatment might have a lower risk of MACE, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. This population-based retrospective study suggests beneficial effects of acupuncture in preventing macrovascular complications associated with diabetes. These findings call for further prospective cohort or experimental studies on acupuncture treatment for cardiovascular complications of diabetes. Please cite this article as: Jung H, Won T, Kim GY, Jang J, Yeo S, Lim S. Efficacy of acupuncture on cardiovascular complications in patients with diabetes mellitus in Korea: A nationwide retrospective cohort. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(2): 176-183.

The GRACE risk score predicts no-reflow and MACE in patients with STEMI undergoing PCI / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 Coronary no-reflow during percutaneous conranary intervention (PCI) often results in the failure of ischemic myocardial reperfusion and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The present study sought to evaluate whether the GRACE risk score can predict coronary no-reflow in STEMI patients undergoing PCI. 【Methods】 We consecutively recruited 1 118 patients with STEMI who were admitted to Gansu Provincial People’s Hospital and The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from January 2009 to December 2011. Main demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, blood lipid and other biochemical indicators were recorded. Coronary angiography was performed by a radial artery approach using the standard Judkins technique. Coronary no-reflow was evaluated by at least two independent experienced cardiologists. The GRACE risk score was calculated with a computer program. All the cases were followed up by medical records, face-to-face interviews or telephone calls. Finally, we analyzed the predictive value of the GRACE risk score for coronary non-reflow and MACE in STEMI patients undergoing PCI. 【Results】 During a median period of 36 months, 58 of the 1 118 patients (5.2%) were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 1 060 patients, 118 (11.1%) had no-reflow and 147 (13.9%) had MACE. The GRACE score was higher in patients with no-reflow than those without no-reflow. Multivariate logistic regression established that the GRACE score was an independent predictor for coronary no-reflow (OR=1.034; P=0.002). And multivariate Cox analysis showed the GRACE score was an independent predictor of MACE. The area under the ROC curve for coronary no-reflow and MACE was 0.719 and 0.697, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the probability of rehospitalization for heart failure, reinfarction, all-cause death and cumulative cardiovascular events increased with the increase of the GRACE risk score. 【Conclusion】 The GRACE risk score is a readily available predictive scoring system for coronary no-reflow and MACE in STEMI patients.

Application of Biomechanical Stress from Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Coronary Plaque Assessment and Prediction of Adverse Cardiovascular Events / 医用生物力学

Long-term exposure to risk factors will lead to coronary atherosclerosis, which will lead to the formation and progression of coronary plaque. Early identification of high-risk plaque characteristics will help prevent plaque rupture or erosion, thus avoiding the occurrence of acute cardiovascular events. Biomechanical stress plays an important role in progression and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. In recent years, non-invasive coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling has made it possible to acquire the corresponding biomechanical stress parameters. These coronary biomechanical stress parameters, especially wall shear stress (WSS), will aid in the development of a more accurate clinical model for predicting plaque progression and major adverse cardiovascular events ( MACE ). In this review, the biomechanical stress and the role of WSS from CCTA in atherosclerosis were introduced, and the researches on the relationship between biomechanical stress from CCTA and coronary artery diseases were discussed.

Meta-analysis of the relationship between interleukin-6 levels and the prognosis and severity of acute coronary syndrome

This study aimed to explore the relationship between plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels, adverse cardiovascular events, and the severity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A literature review was performed of studies regarding IL-6 and ACS extracted from databases including EMBASE, Cqvip, MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang data. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the literature. The literature was screened, its quality was evaluated, and relevant data were extracted for performing meta-analysis using RevMan software (version 5.3). A total of 524 studies were included in the initial survey. After several rounds of screening and analysis, six studies met the inclusion criteria and underwent meta-analysis using a fixed-effect model. Patients were divided into non-severe and severe groups based on the concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Meta-analysis of the relationship between IL-6 and the severity of ACS showed that the plasma IL-6 level of patients in the severe group was significantly higher than that of patients in the non-severe group (p<0.00001). Additionally, patients with experience of major adverse cardiovascular events had significantly higher plasma IL-6 levels than did patients without experience of such events (p<0.00001). In summary, patients with ACS and high IL-6 levels tended to be in a critical condition, with a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events and worse prognosis. Thus, IL-6 levels could indicate whether patients with ACS may have adverse cardiovascular events and determine the severity of ACS.

Relationship between newly onset atrial fibrillation and long-term cardiovascular adverse events in STEMI patients / 医学研究生学报

ObjectiveNeNewly onset atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which is considered to be related to cardiovascular adverse events. This paper aims to discuss the relationship between atrial fibrillation and long-term cardiovascular adverse events after acute myocardial infarction.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 483 STEMI patients with multivessel disease, who underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from January 2014 to May 2017, was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups: AF group: n=52(10.8%) and non-AF group: n=431(89.2%) according to including criteria. The primary endpoint event was long-term major adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, acute heart failure or ischemia stroke. The secondary endpoint event was defined as 30-day cardiovascular death. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards mode were performed to analyze the relationship between newly onset atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular adverse events, such as cardiovascular death. ResultsCompared with non-AF group, AF group had older age, higher levels of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, creatinine, troponin, SYNTAX score and GRACE score and lower levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins and ejection fraction (P<0.01). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis model, newly onset atrial fibrillation, age, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, admission creatinine level, fasting blood glucose, and coronary SYNTAX score were all independent risk factors associated with higher risks of 30-day cardiovascular death (OR=1.983, 95% CI=1.036-3.795, P=0.04). Using Cox proportional hazards mode, newly onset atrial fibrillation following primary PCI was associated with long-term clinical adverse cardiovascular event (HR=1.983, 95% CI=1.036-3.795, P=0.04) after adjusting all covariates. The area under the ROC curve for combined prediction mode with GRACE score and newly onset AF was comparable to the one for the model with GRACE score alone (0.788 vs 0.767，P=0.08).ConclusionNewly onset atrial fibrillation in STEMI patients with multivessel disease who underwent emergency PCI is associated with 30-day cardiovascular death and long-term clinical adverse cardiovascular events. However, newly onset atrial fibrillation does not increase the predictive value of GRACE score.

Association of in-stent restenosis with serum Gal-3 and MMP-9 levels / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective To investigate the relationship of galectin-3 (Gal-3)and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)with in-stent restenosis (ISR).Methods We consecutively recruited 434 patients who had undergone successful drug eluting stent (DES)implantation.Then we divided them into ISR group (n=41)and NO-ISR group (n=393)according to the results of coronary angiography review.Independent risk factors for ISR were found out by multivariate analysis and the two groups were matched for these factors except for Gal-3 and MMP-9 .After elim-ination of the influence of confounders,serum Gal-3 and MMP-9 were compared between the groups and their rela-tions with the severity of ISR were analyzed.Patients were grouped based on Gal-3 and MMP-9 concentrations and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs)were compared between the two groups.Results After elimination of the influence of confounders,the results showed that serum levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 were significantly higher in ISR group than in NO-ISR group (P＜0.001).Serum levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 increased with the increased grade of classification.Serum levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 were obviously higher in classes Ⅲ and Ⅳ ISR than in class Ⅰ (P＜0.05).Patients with higher levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 had a higher incidence of MACEs (P＜0.01).ISR group had a higher incidence of MACEs than NO-ISR group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 are correlated with ISR and its severity,and they are independent risk factors for ISR.The rate of MACEs during follow-up period was increased with the increased levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 .

Studies on the efficacy and safety of transradial approach for primary coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction / 解放军医学杂志

0.05).Follow-up coronary angiography was more frequently performed in group A than in group B.Conclusion In patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention,the transradial approach is a safe and feasible technique.With the higher rate of follow-up angiography,it was found that the incidence of MACE at 1-month follow-up and 6-month follow-up using the transradial approach was similar to transfemoral approach.Therefore,the transradial approach is expected to become the substitute approach for treatment in AMI patients.