The Significance of Coronary Artery Calcification for Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.

The prevalence of calcium deposits in coronary arteries grows with age. Risk factors include, e.g., diabetes and chronic kidney disease. There are several underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of calcium deposition. Severe calcification increases the complexity of percutaneous coronary interventions. Invasive techniques to modify the calcified atherosclerotic plaque before stenting have been developed over the last years. They include balloon- and non-balloon-based techniques. Rotational atherectomy has been the most common technique to treat calcified lesions but new techniques are emerging (orbital atherectomy, intravascular lithotripsy, laser atherectomy). The use of intravascular imaging (intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography) is especially important during the procedures in order to choose the optimal strategy and to assess the final effect of the procedure. This review provides an overview of the role of coronary calcification for percutaneous coronary interventions.

Prognostic value of acid­base balance parameters assessed on admission in peripheral venous blood of patients with myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral venous blood sample may be used to obtain acid­ base balance parameters (PVA­BP) measured in rapid point­of­care test (POCT) analyzers on admission to an emergency department (ED). Thus, lactates, anion gap (AG), and base excess (BE) may be early prognostic markers in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to confirm the relationship between PVA­BP on admission and the outcome in patients with MI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational analysis of MI patients admitted primarily to an ED and secondly transferred to PCI department. RESULTS: A total of 336 patients (41.1% ST­elevated MI, 58.9% non-ST­elevated MI) were divided according to their lactate level, that is, G1 group with lactate below or equal to 2.0 mmol/l (n = 207) and G2 group with lactate above >2.0 mmol/l (n = 129). G2 patients had higher values of AG (mean, [SD], 9.6 [4.3] vs 6.8 [3.2] mEq/l; P <0.001) and lower BE (median [interquartile range], -0.7 [-3.9 to 0.8] vs 1.0 [-0.2 to 2.4] mEq/l; P <0.001). In­hospital nonsurvivors had higher values of lactates (4.0 [2.0-8.7] vs 1.7 [1.3-2.4] mmol/l; P <0.001), AG (10.5 [4.6] vs 7.7 [3.8] mEq/l; P <0.001), and lower BE (-4.8 [-10.6 to -1.8] vs 1.5 [-0.8 to 2.3] mEq/l; P <0.001) than the survivors. Lactates, AG, and BE correlated with Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score (r = 0.361, P <0.001; r = 0.158, P = 0.004; r = -0.383, P <0.001, respectively). Only BE independently predicted both 30- and 365­day mortality in the whole group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.95; P = 0.01 and HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.76-0.99; P = 0.04, respectively) as well as in­hospital mortality among patients without infarct­related out­of­hospital cardiac arrest (odds ratio, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.97; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In the patients admitted to the ED with MI treated with PCI the evaluation of PVA­BP in POCT analyzers may be a reliable tool for early risk stratification.

Does the effectiveness of recanalization of chronic occlusion depend on the location of the obstruction?

INTRODUCTION: In past studies, it has been questioned whether success of recanalization of chronic total occlusion (CTO) depends on the location of the occlusion - the circumflex artery (Cx) was considered as the most difficult to open. AIM: To determine whether the effectiveness of recanalization of CTO depends on the location of the obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2011 to January 2016, a single operator dedicated to chronic total occlusions performed in our center 357 procedures on 337 patients. RESULTS: Among 337 patients included in the study, 83.4% were male. Mean age was 62.8 ±9.3 years. Most of the patients had hypertension (86.4%) and hyperlipidemia (99.4%), and 28.8% of them had diabetes. The most frequently opened artery was the right coronary artery (RCA; 52.4%), followed by the left anterior descending artery (LAD; 29.4%), and last the Cx (18.2%). The mean J-CTO score was comparable between the three groups. The success rate of recanalization of CTO was similar for all arteries: 84.5% in the RCA, 81.9% in the LAD and 89.2% in the Cx (overall p = 0.437). Neither procedural complications nor adverse events depended on the location of the CTO. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows the same efficacy of CTO procedures of all epicardial arteries. We did not observe that effectiveness of recanalization of CTO depends on the location of the obstruction.

Subclinical arterial and cardiac damage in white-coat and masked hypertension.

The study aimed to compare arterial and echocardiographic parameters in subjects with newly diagnosed masked (MH) or white-coat hypertension (WCH) to subjects with sustained normotension or sustained hypertension, defined according to the 2014 European Society of Hypertension practice guidelines for ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring. We recruited 303 participants (mean age 46.9 years) in a family-based population study. SpaceLabs monitors and oscillometric sphygmomanometers were used to evaluate ambulatory and office BP, respectively. Central pulse pressure (PP) and aortic pulse-wave velocity (PWV) were measured with pulse-wave analysis (SphygmoCor software). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and cardiac evaluation were assessed by ultrasonography. Analysing participants without antihypertensive treatment (115 sustained normotensives, 41 sustained hypertensives, 20 with WCH, 25 with MH), we detected significantly higher peripheral and central PP, PWV, IMT and left ventricular mass index in hypertensive subgroups than in those with sustained normotension. The differences between categories remained significant for peripheral PP and PWV after adjustment for confounding factors, including 24 h systolic and diastolic BP. Participants with WCH and MH, defined according to strict criteria, had more pronounced arterial and heart involvement than normotensive participants. The study demonstrates a high prevalence of these conditions in the general population that deserves special attention from physicians.

Recanalisation of coronary chronic total occlusion by retrograde approach: the first experience in Poland.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of revascularisation procedures of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) has been improved by the introduction of retrograde approach. AIM: This study compared the outcomes of CTO revascularisation in a single centre in Krakow, Poland using antegrade and retrograde approach. METHODS: From January 2011 to September 2013, 150 patients underwent 159 procedures for percutaneous revascularisation of CTO of 153 vessels. Of the 159 procedures, 124 (78%) were performed using an antegrade approach and 35 (22%) using a retrograde approach. RESULTS: All patients were symptomatic, with mean CCS class (2.3 ± 0.6 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7, p = 0.9), mean age (59.2 ± 8.3 vs. 62.6 ± 9.9 years, p = 0.067), and mean number of males (81.3% vs. 81.8%, p = 0.9) similar in the retrograde and antegrade groups, respectively. Most patients in both groups had ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50% (84.4% vs. 74.4%, respectively). Occlusions assessed according to the J-CTO score showed that 82.9% and 56.4%, respectively, were rated as difficult or very difficult (p < 0.01). Overall procedural success rate was 88.2%, 87.9% in the antegrade, and 74.3% in the retrograde group. Complication rates were low and similar in two groups. However, the retrograde approach was associated with a longer mean fluoroscopy time (47.8 ± 19.6 vs. 19.3 ± 10.0 min, p < 0.00001) and higher volume of contrast fluid (494.6 ± 142.4 vs. 291.9 ± 118.1 mL, p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: Using novel equipment with adequate experience allowed high rates of successful revascularisation. The retrograde technique for CTO revascularisation showed good overall success and was safe.

Structure and function of large arteries in hypertension in relation to oxidative stress markers.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between hypertension and oxidative stress remains unexplained. Nevertheless, it is well established that reactive oxygen species have an influence on the arterial wall, endothelial function and therefore determine blood pressure. AIM: The evaluation of selected oxidative stress markers in hypertensive patients and an assessment of the relationship between oxidative stress markers and the arterial structure and function. We also aimed to investigate whether the influence of oxidative stress on remodelling of arteries, their structural and functional changes is independent of hypertension or is related to hypertension. METHODS: Altogether 217 subjects (114 female, 103 male) were enrolled from hypertensive families. The mean age was 45.5 ± 16 years, and the group included 155 hypertensives. In every subject, the pulse wave velocity and intima-media thickness (IMT) in carotid arteries were measured as well as selected oxidative stress markers such as asymmetric dimethylarginin (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginin (SDMA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and oxidised low density lipoproteins (ox-LDL). RESULTS: The results of multivariate analysis show that in hypertensive patients: the ADMA level increased with increasing peripheral pulse pressure (b = 0.003; p < 0.001), and AOPP was related to higher carotid IMT (b = 0.91; p = 0.036). In normotensive subjects, the following associations were found: between ADMA and central pulse pressure (b = 0.006; p = 0.008), between SDMA and the peripheral augmentation index (b = -0.03; p = 0.014), between AOPP and the peripheral augmentation index (b = 0.011; p = 0.04), and between ox-LDL/LDL ratio and the peripheral augmentation index (b = -0.025; p = 0.004). The SDMA/ADMA ratio was associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate in both groups (b = -0.0061; p < 0.0001 and b = -0.005; p < 0.017, respectively). In hypertensives, we observed a relation with peripheral pulse pressure (b = -0.0067; p = 0.0143). Moreover, in normotensives there was an association between the SDMA/ADMA ratio and uric acid (b = 1.3629; p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: We found that the influence of oxidative stress on the structure and function of large arteries was independent of hypertension. Therefore oxidative stress may play a significant role in the development of arterial stiffness. Higher oxidative stress is associated with more advanced arterial remodelling in hypertension.

Age and gender dependent heart rate circadian model development and performance verification on the proarrhythmic drug case study.

BACKGROUND: There are two main reasons for drug withdrawals at the various levels of the development path - hepatic and cardiac toxicity. The latter one is mainly connected with the proarrhythmic potency and according to the present practice is supposed to be recognized at the pre-clinical (in vitro and animal in vivo) or clinical level (human in vivo studies). There are, although, some limitations to all the above mentioned methods which have led to novel in vitro - in vivo extrapolation methods being introduced. With the use of in silico implemented mathematical and statistical modelling it is possible to translate the in vitro findings into the human in vivo situation at the population level. Human physiology is influenced by many parameters and one of them which needs to be properly accounted for is a heart rate which follows the circadian rhythm. We described such phenomenon statistically which enabled the improved assessment of the drug proarrhythmic potency. METHODS: A publicly available data set describing the circadian changes of the heart rate of 18 healthy subjects, 5 males (average age 36, range 26-45) and 13 females (average age 34, range 20-50) was used for the heart rate model development. External validation was done with the use of a clinical research database containing heart rate measurements derived from 67 healthy subjects, 34 males and 33 females (average age 33, range 17-72). The developed heart rate model was then incorporated into the ToxComp platform to simulate the impact of circadian variation in the heart rate on QTc interval. The usability of the combined models was assessed with moxifloxacin (MOXI) as a model drug. RESULTS: The developed heart rate model fitted well, both to the training data set (RMSE = 128 ms and MAPE = 12.3%) and the validation data set (RMSE = 165 ms and MAPE = 17.1%). Simulations performed at the population level proved that the combination of the IVIVE platform and the population variability description allows for the precise prediction of the circadian variation of drugs proarrhythmic effect. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that a flexible and practically useful model describing the heart rate circadian variation has been developed and its performance was verified.

[Selection and maintenance of the blood pressure monitor for self-blood pressure monitoring (SBPM)]. / Wybór i obsluga aparatu do mierzenia cisnienia tetniczego w samodzielnych pomiarach cisnienia krwi (SBPM).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The choice of an attested blood pressure (BP) monitor with an adequate arm cuff size and its proper maintenance are crucial for obtaining reliable results in Self-Blood Pressure Monitoring (SBPM) practice. The aim of the study was to assess the factors determining the BP monitor selection, its purchase place and technical use aspects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hun. dred consecutive patients with arte. rial hypertension regularly performing SBPM (100 individuals from a munici. pal primary health care centre and 100 from a specialized hypertension office at a university cardiology clinic, aged 57.7 +/-12.4 years, 54.0% female) have undergone an inquiry study based on the European Society of Hyperten. sion (ESH) guidelines for home BP monitoring. RESULTS: Almost half of the re. spondents are utilizing BP monitors that are not routinely recommended for SBPM: wrist devices - 22.0%, aneroid appliances -15.0%, mercury monitors - 7.0% and finger monitors - 1.0%. Only 45.0% of the study participants have checked if the cuff size is ap. propriate, whereas arm circumference in 26.0% of the patients exceeded 34 cm and in 3.5% of the individuals was below 24 cm. As few as 2.5% of SBPM practitioners perform regular techni. cal checkups of their BP monitors. Patients of a specialized hypertension office have significantly more often chosen their BP apparatus according to the doctor's recommendation than primary health care patients (27.0% vs 12.0%, p=0.007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Sphygmomanometer type and appropriate arm cuff size selections for SBPM is random. The aspects of BP monitor attest and its proper maintenance are neglected. Physicians recommend an adequate BP apparatus choice too rarely.

Association of central and peripheral pulse pressure with intermediate cardiovascular phenotypes.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the relationship between pulse pressure and intermediate cardiovascular phenotypes in a middle-aged cohort with high prevalence of hypertension. BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that central pulse pressure (cPP) is a better predictor of cardiovascular outcome than peripheral pulse pressure (pPP), particularly in the elderly. Yet, it is unclear if cPP provides additional prognostic information to pPP in younger individuals. METHODS: In 535 individuals we assessed cPP and pPP as well as the intermediate cardiovascular phenotypes pulse wave velocity (PWV; SphygmoCor, Complior, PulsePen), carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT; carotid ultrasound), left-ventricular mass index (LVMI; echocardiography) and urinary albumin : creatinine ratio (ACR). cPP was derived noninvasively from brachial blood pressure by pulse wave analysis (PWA; SphygmoCor) based on radial pulse wave tonometry and a validated transfer function. RESULTS: The cohort contained 331 hypertensive participants of whom 84% were treated. The average age was 46 ±â€Š16 years. When compared to pPP, cPP had stronger associations with PWV (r = 0.471 vs. r = 0.372; P < 0.01), C-IMT (r = 0.426 vs. r = 0.235; P < 0.01) and LVMI (r = 0.385 vs. r = 0.189; P < 0.01), but equal association with ACR (r = 0.236 vs. r = 0.226; P = n.s.). In contrast, after adjustment for age, mean arterial pressure, heart rate and hypertension status there was no significant difference between cPP and pPP for prediction of PWV (adjusted R, 0.399 vs. 0.413; P = 0.066), C-IMT (adjusted R, 0.399 vs. 0.413; P = 0.487) and LVMI (adjusted R, 0.181 vs. 0.170; P = 0.094) in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: In our middle-aged cohort with high prevalence of hypertension cPP is more closely correlated with cardiovascular phenotypes than pPP. When adjusted for relevant cofactors, however, cPP does not provide additional information beyond pPP.

[The oxidative stress in pathogenesis of arterial hypertension - role of methylated arginines]. / Udzial stresu oksydacyjnegow patogenezie nadcisnienia tetniczego - rola metylowanych arginin.

Oxidative stress plays significant role in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Imbalance of antioxidants and reactive oxygen species contributes to endothelium damage and leads to hypertension. The knowledge on these processes may contribute to prevention and therapy of cardiovascular diseases. This paper describes the role of methylated arginines in pathogenesis of arterial hypertension, which are nowadays object of wide research and pathways involved in their formation and metabolism are often recognised as potential targets for cardiovascular drugs.