Blood troponin levels in acute cardiac events depends on space weather activity components (a correlative study).

BACKGROUND: Many biological processes are influenced by space weather activity components such as solar activity (SA), geomagnetic activity (GMA) and cosmic ray activity (CRA). Examples are total mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke (cerebrovascular accident), sudden cardiac death, some congenital maladies (congenital heart disease and Down syndrome), many events in neonatology, ophtalmology, blood pressure regulation, blood coagulation, inflammation, etc. The aim of this study was to check if the level of blood troponins (Tns) - markers of myocardial damage and recognized components of modern description of AMI - is connected with the mentioned space weather parameters. METHODS: Patients admitted to a 3000-bed tertiary university hospital in Kaunas, Lithuania, with suspected AMI were the object of the study. Data for the time between 2008 and 2013 - 72 consecutive months - were studied. Of the patients, 1896 (1398 male, 498 female) had elevated troponin I (Tn I) or troponin T (Tn T, sensitive Tn) levels. Normal values were 0.00-0.03 ng/mL for Tn I and 0.00-14.00 ng/mL for Tn T. Monthly means and standard deviation of Tn I and Tn T were compared with monthly markers of SA, GMA and CRA. Pearson correlation coefficients and their probabilities were established (in addition to the consecutive graphs of both comparing physical and biological data). The cosmophysical data came from space service institutions in the United States, Russia and Finland. RESULTS: AMI was diagnosed in 1188 patients (62.66%), and intermediate coronary syndrome in 698 patients (36.81%). There were significant links of the Tn blood levels with four SA indices and CRA (neutron activity in imp/min); there was no significant correlation with GMA indices Ap and Cp (p=0.27 and p=0.235). Tn T levels significantly correlated with the GMA indices and not with the SA and CRA levels (Ap: r=0.77, p=0.0021; Cp: r=0.729, p=0.0047). CONCLUSIONS: First, the monthly level of blood Tn I in ACS is significantly correlated with the indices of SA (inverse) and with CRA (neutron); second, no significant correlation with the GMA indices was found; and third, the Tn T levels showed significant links with the GMA indices and none with SA and CRA (neutron).

Birth month and longevity: birth month of victims of sudden (SCD, ≤1 h) and rapid (RCD, ≤24 h) cardiac deaths.

BACKGROUND: After a publication of a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA in 2001, we published three studies related to birth month and morbidity of patients that can affect longevity. The aim of this study is to check two groups of cardiac deaths, consisting of more than 50% of cardiovascular mortality in the industrial world, to examine this paradigm. METHODS: Patients suffering rapid cardiac death (RCD) (≤24 h) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) (≤1 h) in Lithuanian Medical Science University hospital, a tertiary 3000-bed facility, in 2000-2010 were studied. In total, 1239 RCDs and 324 SCDs were included in this study. Monthly, quarterly, trimester and half-year comparisons of the patients' birth month population were studied. RESULTS: A difference in birth month distribution of the study patients was observed. For RCDs (≤24 h), the highest numbers were found for January (11.0%) and May (10.3%), whereas for the SCDs (≤1 h), April (13.3%) and January (10.5%) dominated. The least numbers were in November (SCD, 5.6%; RCD, 6.2%) and December (5.2-6.1%). Those born in the first and second quarter and first trimester were significantly more than those born in the fourth quarter (I/IV, p=0.0023; I/III, p=0.0074; II/IV, p=0.047) or trimester [I/II, p=0.09 (trend); I/III p=0.014; II/III, p=0.079 (trend)]. In another study at the same location (number of newborns n=286,963), significant correlation between monthly newborn number and month of the year was not found. possible environmental effects related to the different monthly birth distributions of the studied group are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Victims of SCD and RCD are unequally distributed according to month of birth. The highest numbers were found for January and March to May. The numbers are higher for the first and second quarter and first trimester in comparison with the months at the end of the year. The lowest numbers of study patients were born in November, December and October. This is in accord with the birth months of American centenarians (100-112 years old) found by colleagues from the University of Chicago. Possible mechanisms for predisposition to SCD and RCD need further elucidation. Our findings support the paradigm linking birth month and longevity.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (n-11026) on days of zero geomagnetic activity (GMA) and the following week: differences at months of maximal and minimal solar activity (SA) in solar cycles 23 and 24.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of most common cardiovascular pathologies in the industrial world. In addition to known risk factors, environmental physical activity factors such as solar activity (SA), geomagnetic activity (GMA), and cosmic ray activity (CRA) could be also involved in the timing of AMI. The aim of this study was to study AMI admissions at days of zero GMA, accompanied by high CRA, and the following week in the higher and lowest parts of solar cycles 23 and 24. METHODS: Patients admitted for AMI (n=11,026, 59.5% men) in years 2000-2009 at the Department of Cardiology of Lithuanian University of Medical Sciences were studied for all periods and separately for the higher part of the 11-year solar activity in cycles 23 and 24 (2000-2007) and its lowest part (2008-2009). Admissions at day of zero GMA as well as 1, 2, 6, and 7 days after zero-GMA day were compared. RESULTS: At high SA, zero-GMA days were rare and isolated (36 in years 2000-2007). They have been followed by significant increase in admissions on the following days. In the two lowest years of SA 2008-2009, there were 57 days of zero GMA, many of which were consecutive and in groups. For the whole solar cycle, there was a more gradual increase in AMI from 1 to 2 days after zero-GMA day, and there were significantly higher AMI admissions at 6 days after the first zero-GMA day (p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Zero-GMA/high-neutron activity is followed by increase in AMI admissions at the days that follow. The effects are different at high and low parts of the 11-year solar cycle.