The Prognostic Value of ADP-Induced Platelet Aggregation for Bleeding Complications in Low - Intermediate Risk Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Taking Clopidogrel After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Platelet aggregation may predict the bleeding outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Consecutive patients with non-high risk acute coronary syndrome and indication for PCI were enrolled. Maximum adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation (ADP-PGmax) was assessed by light transmission aggregometry. Study endpoints were the incidence of haemorrhage, categorised by Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction criteria, and significant entry-site complications during hospitalisation and six-month follow-up period. Platelet aggregation test was organised at 24h after PCI and 1 month after discharge respectively. The optimal platelet aggregation was detected defining enhanced clopidogrel response, and associations of measurements with endpoints were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 278 patients were included in analyses. Study endpoints were observed in 24 (8.6%) patients [major bleeding, n=4 (1.4%); minor bleeding, n=11 (4.0%); significant entry-site complication, n=9 (3.2%)]. In multivariate analysis, follow-up ADP-PGmax[odds ratio (OR)=0.96;95% confidence interval (CI),0.93-0.99;p=0.008) and renal insufficiency (OR=3.29; 95%CI, 1.23-8.85; p=0.018) were predictors of bleeding events. The optimal cutoff value for follow-up ADP-PGmax was 24.5% (area under the curve=0.72; 95% CI, 0.59-0.85; p<0.001). Bleeding occurred in 26.2% (16/61) of patients with enhanced clopidogrel response and 3.7% (8/217) of other patients (OR=9.26; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Enhanced clopidogrel responsiveness was associated with an increased risk of bleeding and entry-site complication. Platelet function testing at an appropriate time after clopidogrel administration helps to identify patients at high risk of bleeding.

[Acute coronary syndrome in women below 50 years of age: risk factors and clinical and angiographic features].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors and angiographic features of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in women below 50 years of age. METHODS: A total of 131 women with ACS aged 50 years or younger were enrolled in this study as the case group, with another 425 women aged below 50 years with normal coronary angiographic findings as the control group. The risk factors and clinical and coronary angiographic features of ACS were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, significantly higher frequencies of dyslipidemia, hypertension (especially diastolic hypertension), diabetes, or a positive family history for coronary artery disease (CAD) were found in ACS group (P<0.05) . The proportion of post-menopausal women and the menopausal ages were similar between the two groups (P>0.05), but the mean diastolic pressure was significantly higher in ACS group than in the control group (P<0.05). Among the menopausal women, the conventional risk factors for ACS were similar between the two groups with the exception of family history CAD, which was more frequent in ACS group. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in ACS group than in the control group (P<0.05), but the levels of high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were comparable between them. Positive findings of urine protein were more frequent in ACS group. In ACS group, 54.2% of the patients had a single diseased artery, 29.6% had more than one diseased artery, and 16.0% had slightly diseased or even normal coronary arteries; the lesion was found most commonly in the left anterior descending artery. CONCLUSION: In women with ACS below 50 years of age, the risk factors of ACS included the conventional risk factors of CAD and a positive finding of urine protein. Menopause is not associated with an increased incidence of ACS. A substantial portion of these ACS patients can have slightly diseased and even normal coronary arteries.

Effect of a combined anti-thrombotic therapy of thrombosis on prosthetic heart valves.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the curative effects and risks of a medical therapy with combined anti-thrombotic agents for thrombosis on prosthetic heart valves. METHODS: Twenty-two patients who suffered from thrombosis on prosthetic valves with stable hemodynamics were divided into the inpatient group and the outpatient group. Thrombosis on the valves were demonstrated by transesophageal echocardiographies (TEE). A combined anti-thrombotic therapy with clopidogrel and warfarin were prescribed for all the patients during the whole treatment. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was given twice daily during the first 5 days for the inpatients. The patients accepted regular follow-ups for observation of the functions of prosthetic valves, changes of thrombi, coagulation status and general clinical status. RESULTS: There were 5 men and 17 women. Thirteen patients suffered from thrombosis on the mechanical mitral valves (MVs), five on the mechanical tricuspid valves (TVs), one on the mechanical aortic valve and tricuspid bio-prosthetic valve, one on the mechanical aortic valve, one on the mitral bio-prosthetic valve, and one on the tricuspid bio-prosthetic valve. After an average of 36.4±23.1 days' observation, 16 (73%) patients' valvular function recovered normal without TTE detectable thrombi, 6 (27%) patients' valvular function remained abnormal including three patients without TTE detectable thrombi during follow-ups. No significant differences of thrombi changes and period of thrombi disappearance were observed between the inpatient group and the outpatient group. For patients with mitral thrombosis, sizes of the left atriums (LAs) decreased an average of 4.1 mm after treatment (95% CI, 1.2-6.9 mm). No significant changes of other chambers and left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) were observed. For patients with tricuspid thrombosis, LVEF improved an average of 10.5% after treatment (95% CI, 0.1-17.9%). No significant changes of chambers were observed. None experienced major bleedings except for two cases of mild subcutaneous ecchymoses. CONCLUSIONS: The combined anti-thrombotic therapy based on clopidogrel and warfarin is a feasible treatment for thrombosis on prosthetic heart valves under a close monitoring.

Association of various risk factors with prognosis and hospitalization cost in Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction: A clinical analysis of 627 cases.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world and is becoming increasingly more common in developing countries. The risk factors affecting the prognosis of Chinese patients may differ from those in other populations. This study was conducted to investigate the potential risk factors that may correlate with prognosis and hospitalization costs of Chinese AMI patients. A total of 627 hospitalized AMI patients were recruited and their general information and relevant laboratory parameters were collected. Accordingly, the patients were grouped into different subgroups and potential risk factors and their correlations with prognosis and hospitalization costs were analyzed. Age, high blood pressure, infarct location and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were the variables significantly associated with the differences in the prognosis of AMI patients (P<0.05), whereas times and duration of hospitalization, high blood pressure, infarct location and PCI treatment were found to be significantly associated with the cost of hospitalization (P<0.05). However, the AMI patients enrolled in this study may not be representative of all AMI patients in China. In addition, the prognosis of these patients was limited to their hospital stay. Therefore, long-term follow-up requires careful assessment.

[A new technique for bilateral angiography in a single radial access].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a new technique of bilateral angiography in a single radial access (BASiRalA) which can reduce a puncture site. METHODS: From March 2011 to February 2012, 13 cases of coronary heart disease patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) were treated (6 CTOs in right coronary artery and 7 in left anterior descending artery). All patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the right radial artery access and 6 F guiding catheters were delivered to the diseased artery. Once the wires crossed the CTO lesions and were uncertain if the wires were in true lumen or not, BASiRalA was performed. The Finecross microcatheters were advanced out of the 6 F guiding catheter, then withdraw 6F guiding catheter to the opening of diseased artery, the soft wires were manipulated into the middle portion of opposite coronary artery. After that, the microcatheters were advanced to this segment or the branches relative to the collateral vessels connected with CTOs. After pulling out the wires, microcatheter injections can be performed for contralateral angiography. BASiRalA related complications were observed after the procedure. RESULTS: BASiRalA technique was applied to 13 CTOs and 10 procedures succeeded (76.92%). BASiRalA failed in 3 cases and the wires and microcatheters could not be advanced to the opposite coronary arteries within 20 minutes. Alternatively, contralateral angiography via femoral arteries was performed in these 3 patients. The average time of BASiRalA technique was 7 (5 - 13) minutes and the shortest time of wires crossing to the opposite coronary artery was 5 seconds. There was no procedure induced complication during procedure or post procedure. CONCLUSION: BASiRalA technique is feasible in treating CTO patients by PCI.

[The B lymphocytes D8/17 antigen expression and characteristics of patients with rheumatic heart disease in Guangdong].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the D8/17 antigen expression of patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Guangdong province and study the antigen's characteristics. METHODS: The level of D8/17 antigen expression on B lymphocytes was determined with flow cytometry assay in 96 RHD patients and 83 unaffected controls. The percentage of B-cells expressing the D8/17 antigen having more than 10% was considered to be positive. D8/17 antigen was extracted by immunoprecipitation, and the antigen characteristics was analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean percentage of B-cells expressing the D8/17 antigen was (85.36 ± 15.15)% in the RHD patients and (82.89 ± 4.55)% in the controls, with no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.436). Moreover, the positive rate of the D8/17 expression was 100% in either the RHD patients or the controls. The molecular weight of D8/17 antigen was found to be 40 000 - 67 000, and the purified protein was most likely to match moesin or ß-actin. CONCLUSIONS: B-cell antigen D8/17 is not associated with RHD in Guangdong province of China. Moesin or ß-actin is the most likely protein to match D8/17 antigen.

[Retrograde percutaneous recanalization of chronic total occlusion of the coronary arteries via epicardial coronary collateral artery in 5 patients].

OBJECTIVE: to explore the feasibility of percutaneous recanalization by retrograde approach via epicardial collaterals. METHODS: retrograde percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via epicardial collaterals was performed in 5 patients with previously failed antegrade PCI from April 2009 to November 2009. 7 F guiding catheters were engaged in donor artery. Hydrophilic wires and microcatheters were crossed to the distal ends of chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions via epicardial collaterals. Four retrograde wires were exchanged into stiffer wires and further crossed the CTO, eventually went into the 6 F antegrade guiding catheters and were jailed by a 2.5 mm balloon. After dilatations of retrograde balloons, the lesions were crossed by antegrade wires, and finalized by conventional PCI method. One case was recanalized with retrograde wire trapping technique and another case was recanalized by reverse CART technique. RESULTS: the epicardial collaterals were reached from left anterior descending branch (LAD) to distal right coronary artery (RCA) via apex in 3 patients, from left circumflex branch via left atrium branch to posterior descending artery and RCA in 1 patient and from obtuse marginal artery to diagonal artery and LAD in 1 patient. CTO was successfully recanalized and stents were implanted in 4 patients and failed in 1 patient despite successful wire positioning to the distal end of CTO. There was no procedure-induced cardiovascular event in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: epicardial collaterals may not be used as a routine route in retrograde approach PCI due to the potential risk of myocardial rupture and pericardial tamponade. In some cases with unavailable or unsuitable septal collaterals, epicardial collaterals may be used as an alternative route for CTO recanalization.

A school-based program for control of group a streptococcal upper respiratory tract infections: a controlled trial in Southern China.

A prospective, school-based study included daily monitoring for incidence of symptomatic streptococcal-associated pharyngitis and monthly determinations of group A streptococcal prevalence. A treatment group received penicillin/erythromycin therapy at school for positive throat cultures; the control group sought medical care from their regular provider. Prevalence and incidence of group A streptococcal pharyngitis were significantly lower among the treatment group than in the controls.