Associations between antibiotic exposure and abnormal cardiac enzyme profiles in older Chinese adults.

Biomonitoring methods can be used to measure exposure to antibiotics in the general population; however, epidemiological data on the associations between urinary antibiotic levels and the cardiac profiles of enzymes lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and creatine kinase isoenzyme in older adults remain sparse. We investigated these associations in 990 individuals from the Cohort of Elderly Health and Environment Controllable Factors. Antibiotic residues in urine samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Urinary levels of 34 antibiotics were measured. The participants' cardiac enzyme profiles were influenced by sex, age, marital status, education level, cohabitation status, physical activity, dietary structure, body mass index, depression presence and salt, sugar, and oil consumption (P < 0.05). Oxytetracycline, tetracycline, doxycycline, sulfaclozine, and, florfenicol concentrations were negatively associated with the risk of having an abnormal cardiac enzyme profile. Older adults exposed to higher concentrations of norfloxacin had a higher risk of LDH anomalies. After antibiotics were classified, we identified associations between exposure to chloramphenicols, sulfonamides, or veterinary antibiotics and a lower risk of having an abnormal cardiac enzyme profile. Obtaining an accurate epidemiological profile of antibiotic exposure is indispensable for the prevention and detection of cardiac enzyme profile abnormalities in older adults.

Risk stratification of patients with chest pain who have an unscheduled revisit to the emergency department.

AIMS: Acute cardiovascular (CV) emergencies are critical conditions that require urgent attention in the emergency department (ED). Failure to make a timely diagnosis may result in unscheduled ED revisits and severe outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with potentially missed acute CV emergencies. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective study enrolled adult patients who presented with chest pain and returned to the ED within 72 h. Demographic information, pre-existing medical conditions, chief complaints, triage level and vital signs, electrocardiography (ECG) reports, and laboratory data were collected from medical charts by independent physicians. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of acute CV diseases, including ACS, pulmonary embolism, unstable arrhythmia, acute decompensated heart failure, and aortic dissection. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the association between variables and acute CV emergencies. A total of 453 eligible patients were included, with 60 (13.2%) patients diagnosed as acute CV emergencies at the ED revisit. Risk factors for acute CV emergencies included male gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.17-6.25), abnormal ECG rhythm (aOR = 10.33, 95% CI = 4.68-22.83), and abnormal changes in high sensitivity Troponin-T (hs-cTnT) during sequential follow-up (aOR = 6.52, 95% CI = 2.19-19.45). CONCLUSIONS: Male gender, abnormal ECG rhythm, and a significant increase in sequential follow-up hs-cTnT levels were identified as significant risk factors for acute CV emergencies. ED physicians should recognize these high-risk patients with chest pain to prevent misdiagnosis and potential severe complications.

Cardioprotective Effect of Marsdenia tenacissima and Sansevieria roxburghiana in Doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats in vivo: The Role of Dresgenin and Lupeol

Objectives: The major adverse effect of doxorubicin (DOX) in cancer treatment is cardiac toxicity. Murva is a controversial plant used in the Ayurvedic system, which consist of more than 12 medicinal plant roots found in different parts of India. Marsdenia tenacissima (MT) is an acceptable source in Murva, whereas Sansevieria roxburghiana (SR) Schult & Schult.f. (S. zeylanica Roxb.) are also considered as Murva in West Bengal, India. The present study focused on the evaluation of the cardioprotective mechanism as well as the in vivo cardioprotective potential of methanol extracts of MT and SR on rats by using in silico methods. Materials and Methods: A total of 48 rats were divided into 8 groups with 6 in each group. DOX 20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.) was administered to all rats on the 13th day, with the exception of group 1. Group 2 was the disease control, group 3 was the treated with the standard drug propronolol, and groups 4 to 5 were treated with two lower doses of methanol extract of MT (MEMT) and methanol extract of SR (MESR), whereas group 7 received higher dose combinations of both extracts for 14 continuous days. Blood and tissue antioxidant levels as well as cardiac enzymes were measured at the end of the study. Damage to cellular functional units was analyzed by histopathological study. Dresgenin from MT similarly lupeol from SR were taken as ligands for the target peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARα) protein to find out the mechanism of action. High-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting was performed to determine the number of phytoconstituents present in both extracts. Results: The combination that showed the most significant (p<0.001) effect on altered cardiac enzymes and antioxidant enzyme levels in both blood and tissues also corrected the extreme damage in cellular functional units. Dresgenin and lupeol showed binding scores of -8.2 (kcal/mol) and -9 (kcal/mol), respectively, with PPARα. HPTLC reports revealed that 17 and 12 peaks were found at 254 nm for dresgenin and lupeol, respectively. Conclusion: The study results concluded that the combination of MESR and MEMT and that of MESR and MEMT exerted cardioprotective activity via binding of dresgenin and lupeol to PPARα. The order of efficacy was the extract combination > MESR > MEMT.

Impact of low-dose prasugrel on platelet reactivity and cardiac dysfunction in acute coronary syndrome patients requiring primary drug-eluting stent implantation: A randomized comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare how prasugrel and clopidogrel affect platelet aggregation reactivity, cardiac enzyme release, cardiac remodeling, and the formation of in-stent thrombi after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND: The advantages of using prasugrel over clopidogrel in cardiac injury following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain unclear. METHODS: A total of 78 ACS patients were randomly allocated into clopidogrel (300 mg loading/75 mg maintenance) or prasugrel (20 mg loading/3.75 mg maintenance) treatment groups, followed by undergoing primary PCI. Platelet reactivity and cardiac enzymes were measured before and after primary PCI. Moreover, cardiac function was measured by ultrasound echocardiography and coronary angioscopic observation was after primary PCI up to 8 months later. RESULTS: Antiplatelet reactivity in the prasugrel treatment group reached optimal levels (P2Y12 reaction units [PRU] less than 262) immediately after the administration and was maintained even at 8 months, independently of the CYP2C19 genotype. Prasugrel treatment significantly suppressed creatine kinase elevation compared to clopidogrel treatment (median value 404 IU/L to 726 IU/L vs. 189 IU/L to 1,736 IU/L, p = 0.018 for maximum values) and reduced left ventricular mass (217.2-168.8 g in prasugrel, p = 0.045; 196.9-176.4 g in clopidogrel, p = 0.061). There were no significant differences in the incidence of in-stent attached thrombi between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to clopidogrel, prasugrel produced a stable platelet aggregation inhibitory effect in patients with ACS regardless of CYP2C19 genotype, reduced cardiac enzyme release, and prevented cardiac remodeling after ACS.

Effects of remote ischemic preconditioning in patients with concentric myocardial hypertrophy: A randomized, controlled trial with molecular insights.

BACKGROUND: Efficacy of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) for cardioprotection in cardiac surgery is controversial. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and molecular effects of RIPC on the concentrically hypertrophied myocardium. METHODS: Seventy-two aortic stenosis patients receiving aortic valve replacement (AVR) under sevoflurane anesthesia were randomly allocated to RIPC (3cycles of 5-min inflation [300mmHg] and deflation on the left arm) or control (deflated cuff placement) group. The primary endpoints were 24-h area under the curve (AUC) for serum creatine kinase (CK)-MB and troponin (Tn)-T levels. The secondary endpoints were myocardial activation of cell signaling pathways, including reperfusion injury salvage kinases (RISK), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and apoptosis related molecules, obtained from right atrial tissue before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). RESULTS: There were no intergroup differences in 24-h AUCs of CK-MB and Tn-T. Phosphorylations of RISK pathway molecules were not enhanced by RIPC before and after CPB. Phosphorylation of STAT5 was significantly lower in the RIPC group before and after CPB. Phosphorylations of STAT3 and endothelial NOS were not enhanced by RIPC before and after CPB. Expression level of cleaved caspases-3/caspase-3 was significantly higher in the RIPC group before CPB. CONCLUSIONS: RIPC did not provide clinical benefits or activate protective signaling in patients with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy undergoing AVR.

Elevation of troponin I in acute ischemic stroke.

Background. Cardiac morbidities account for 20% of deaths after ischemic stroke and is the second commonest cause of death in acute stroke population. Elevation of cardiac troponin has been regarded as a prognostic biomarker of poor outcome in patients with acute stroke. Methods. This retrospective study enrolled 871 patients with acute ischemic stroke from August 2010 to March 2015. Data included vital signs, laboratory parameters collected in the emergency department, and clinical features during hospitalization. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel index, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were used to assess stroke severity and outcome. Results. Elevated troponin I (TnI) > 0.01 µg/L was observed in 146 (16.8%) patients. Comparing to patients with normal TnI, patients with elevated TnI were older (median age 77.6 years vs. 73.8 years), had higher median heart rates (80 bpm vs. 78 bpm), higher median white blood cells (8.40 vs. 7.50 1,000/m(3)) and creatinine levels (1.40 mg/dL vs. 1.10 mg/dL), lower median hemoglobin (13.0 g/dL vs. 13.7 g/dL) and hematocrit (39% vs. 40%) levels, higher median NIHSS scores on admission (11 vs. 4) and at discharge (8 vs. 3), higher median mRS scores (4 vs3) but lower Barthel index scores (20 vs. 75) at discharge (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that age ≥ 76 years (OR 2.25, CI [1.59-3.18]), heart rate ≥ 82 bpm (OR 1.47, CI [1.05-2.05]), evidence of clinical deterioration (OR 9.45, CI [4.27-20.94]), NIHSS score ≥ 12 on admission (OR 19.52, CI [9.59-39.73]), and abnormal TnI (OR 1.98, CI [1.18-3.33]) were associated with poor outcome. Significant factors for in-hospital mortality included male gender (OR 3.69, CI [1.45-9.44]), evidence of clinical deterioration (OR 10.78, CI [4.59-25.33]), NIHSS score ≥ 12 on admission (OR 8.08, CI [3.04-21.48]), and elevated TnI level (OR 5.59, CI [2.36-13.27]). C-statistics revealed that abnormal TnI improved the predictive power of both poor outcome and in-hospital mortality. Addition of TnI > 0.01 ug/L or TnI > 0.1 ug/L to the model-fitting significantly improved c-statistics for in-hospital mortality from 0.887 to 0.926 (p = 0.019) and 0.927 (p = 0.028), respectively. Discussion. Elevation of TnI during acute stroke is a strong independent predictor for both poor outcome and in-hospital mortality. Careful investigation of possible concomitant cardiac disorders is warranted for patients with abnormal troponin levels.

Protective effect of GuanXinShiWeiWan on isolated rat hearts with ischemia reperfusion injury / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the protective effect of GuanXinShiWeiWan on ischemia reperfusion(I-R) injury rat.Methods 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, GuanXinShiWeiWan low ( 0.3 mg/kg ) and high ( 0.9 mg/kg ) dose group and positive group, each had 10 rats.Adopting the model of ischemia reperfusion injury of isolated rat hearts, the contents of SOD,MDA,LDH,CK and Ca2 +-ATP, Ca2 +-Mg2 +-ATP, Na +-K +-ATP in cardiac muscle tissue were tested and compared.Results Compared with model group, GuanXinShiWeiWan significantly improved the activities of SOD、Ca2 +-ATP,Ca2 +-Mg2 +-ATP and Na +-K +-ATP (P<0.05 or P<0.01) in cardiac muscle tissue which injured by ischemia reperfusion, while reducing markedly the contents of MDA,LDH,CK(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion GuanXinShiWeiWan can profect the cardiac muscle of ischemia reperfusion.

A Patient Presenting with Elevations of Cardiac Enzyme Levels after Veratrum Oxysepalum Ingestion

Veratrum patulum has toxicological relevance because of the potential for misidentification of this plant as mountain garlic. Veratrum patulum has an ester-alkaloid that provokes cardiac arrhythmias by excessive vagal stimulation and depression of the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes of the heart and hypotension, cardiomegaly. We report on a retrospective case of successful outcome in patients with veratrum patulum poisoning through active treatment from the early phase after ingestion. We report on a case involving a patient who experienced dizziness, dyspnea, hypotension, and elevation of cardiac enzyme, cardiomegaly. These cases were kept under observation and generally recovered with supportive care. We report on cases of veratrum patulum poisoning with review of literature.

Myocardial Injury in Newborn Infants with Severe Metabolic Acidosis at the First Day of Life

PURPOSE: Severe acidosis by various causes can lead to multi-organ dysfunction including cardiac dysfunction (CD) due to myocardial injury. The aims of this study are to investigate CD in newborn infants with severe acidemia at the first day of life and to evaluate the effect on myocardial injury according to the type and the severity of acidosis. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of infants > or =34 weeks of gestational age with severe acidemia (pH60 mmHg) and non-RA group (pCO2 or =-10) were classified based on the degree of BE. RESULTS: The levels of CK-MB and myoglobin had significant negative relation with BE. CD group had higher incidences of seizure and mortality and higher levels of CK-MB and cTnI than those of non-CD group. Severe BE group had higher incidences of CD and seizure and higher levels of CK-MB, myoglobin and cTnI than those of mild BE group. Non-RA group had higher levels of CK-MB and myoglobin than those of RA group. CONCLUSION: At the first day of life, the newborn infants with severe metabolic acidosis have high incidences of CD and myocardial injury. Aggressive monitoring and appropriate treatment for CD according to myocardial injury should be recommended in the newborn infants with severe metabolic acidosis.

Effect of automated external defibrillator on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and cardiac function / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To investigate the efficiency and safety of the automated external defibrillator (AED); and to compare the defibrillating efficacy between the domestic AED and the imported AED. Method Fourteen Peking white swine weighed (30 ± 1 ) kg, were anaesthetized and arterial cannula was inserted into the left femoral artery for collecting blood samples and measuring artery blood pressure, cardiac output (CO) and external vascular lung water index (EVWI) by using PiCCO monitor, and another cannula was inserted into the left femoral vein to place an electrode as a temporary pace maker, and then ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced by using a programmed electrical stimulation instrument. The swine were divided into two groups randomly ( random number) after VF was confirmed by electrocardio-monitor,and the domestic made AED (M group, n = 7) or imported AED (Z group, n = 7) were used respectively in 7 swine of each group. The electrodes of defibrillator were stuck to the precordium and sternum separately, and defibrillation was delivered by the AED signal. The entire procedure of defibrillation was repeated four times. The number of defibrillation delivery required to get normal cardiac rhythm was recorded. Twenty minutes after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), blood sample was taken to measure myocardial enzyme. The CO and EVWI were measured too. Measurement data was analyzed by repeated ANOVA and enumeration data was analyzed by Chi-square test. A value of P ＜0.05 was regarded as being significant statistical difference. Results There were 54 episodes of VF induced in 14 swine and only one swine in Z group was dead after 2nd episode of VF, resulting in 98.1% success rate of resuscitation. There were 37 defibrillation deliveries given to swine of M group, and 75.0% produced normal cardiac rhythm after the first delivery of defibrillation,whereas 80.0% in Z group after 32 defibrillation deliveries. The length of time from AED turned on to the recognition of ECG signal of VF was (29 ± 1 ) s. There were 2 occasions in both groups that the AEDs failed to recognize the VF signal emerged on ECG after the first induction of VF by electrical shock. Similarly, there were 2 occasions in Z group that the AED incorrectly recognized the signal of ventricular tachycardia as that of VF, but no harm was done after defibrillation delivery given following the signal of AED. During the entire course of experiment, heart rate,blood pressure and CO of all survived swine were stable,but the EVWI and myoglobin (MYO) gradually increased as time elapsed until the 3rd or 4th episode of VF leading to significant differences from the original ones. There were no significant differences in all biomarkers between two groups. Conclusions The VF can be ceased by AED safely and efficiently. There are no significant differences in signal recognition, efficacy of defibrillation and myocardial injury found between the domestic made AED and imported AED; but AED may not be good to be recommended to the professional staff of resuscitation because of its incorrect reorganization of ECG owing to over-automation.

Changes of the serum myocardial enzymes in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To explore the changes of the serurn cardiac enzymes in patients with acute massive pulmonary thromboembolosm(PIE),sub-massive PTE and non-massive FIE between pre-therapy and past-therapy and its relationship.Method The prospective multi-centres trial included 519 patients with confirmed PTE from 24 joint hospitals in Beijing,consisting of 54 massive FIE,195 sub-massive PTE and 270 non-massive PIE.Thrombolytic treatment was used in massive and sub-massive PTE patients with employment of urokinase and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator(rt-PA),and anti-coagulative therapy with unfractionated heparin and low molecular heparin was used in non-massive PTE.Results(1)The values of serum CPK and LDH in massive PTE patients before therapeutical intervention were obfiously higher than those in sub-massive and non-massive PTE patients(P<0.01);(2)Of 45 patients with high pulmonary pressure,24(54.4%)patients had high serum LDH(P<0.01).Of 169 patients with right ventrieular dysfunction,68(40.2%)ones has high serum LDH(P=0.049).Of 48 patients suffered from poor prognosis,15(30.8%)ones had high serum.LDH(P=0.039).Conclusions ①The vMues of serum CPK and LDH in acute PTE patients increase without elevation of CK-MB.②Serum LDH associates with pulmonary presure,right ventrieular function and prognosis.

Clinical Value of BNP (B-type natriuretic peptides) in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the roles and the clinical effects of BNP (B-type natriuretic peptides) in patients with AMI (acute myocardial infarction). METHODS: We prospectively analyzed the cases of 20 patients with AMI who visited the Emergency Department, Sanggye Paik Hospital, during the 3 months from Dec.1 to Feb. 28,2003. We measured the BNP and the cardiac enzyme (CK-MB) at admission and at 1 day, 3 days, and 5 days after admission. The patients were divided according to LV (left ventricular) systolic function, site of infarction, infarct-related artery, 6-hour vascular patency, and pattern of BNP change. We compared the values for the BNP for parameters such as sex, age, risk factors, onset time, cardiac enzymes, ejection fraction, hospital days, and etc. RESULTS : BNP at each time was higher in cases with LVSD (LV systolic dysfunction) than it was in cases without LVSD, but no statistically significant difference etistied among the subgroup. BNP is correlated with the onset time, the hospital days, the ejection fraction, and the presence of LVSD, but not with cardiac enzyme (CK-MB) or with necrotic severity. CONCLUSION: the BNP level of a patient with AMI is a predictive marker of LVSD at any measurement time and reflects the hospital course. Thus, we can use BNP as a prognostic factor of LVSD and stratify the risk of heart failure.

Availability of Cardiac Troponin T as a Marker for Detecting Perioperative Myocardial Damage in Patients with Open Heart Surgery / 대한흉부외과학회지

It is well known that troponin T (below TnT) is present in the myocardial cells and released during myocardial damage, so it`s very specific enzyme to myocardium. Availability of cardiac specific TnT in assessing perioperatively myocardial damage was evaluated from 34 open heart surgery patients. They consisted of 11 ischemic heart, 13 acquired valvular heart and 10 congenital heart cases. Patients were divided into two groups, group A (patients with myocardial damage) and group B (patients without myocardial damage), according to the symptom of chest pain suspecting angina and the ECG findings of ST segment and T wave changes which show myocardial ischemia and injury. Serum TnT levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay method preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, postoperative day 1, day 2, day 3, and day 7. We observed and analyzed the changes of serum TnT levels in two groups and compared the serum TnT levels with CK-MB levels measured at the same time. In group A, serum TnT levels showed 1.37+/-0.26microgram/L, 3.16+/-0.66microgram/L, 2.39+/-0.74microgram/L, 2.49+/-0.76microgram/L, and 1.23+/-0.60microgram/L, immediate postoperatively, postoperatively day1, day2, day3, and day7, respectively. It was observed there were significant differences compared with those of group B (0.38+/-0.04microgram/L, 0.34+/-0.05microgram/L, 0.25+/-0.03microgram/L, 0.24+/-0.04microgram/L, and 0.11+/-0.03microgram/L) during identical periods (p<0.01). Serum CK-MB level in group A significantly elevated to 145.04+/-35.08 IU/L on the postoperative day 1 compared to group B (31.28+/-5.87 IU/L, p<0.05), However, it stiffly decreased from day 2 and returned to preoperative level at day 3. When serum TnT level more than 1.0microgram/L is thought to reflect myocardial damage, serum TnT had 100% of sensitivity and 87% of specificity in diagnosing the postoperative myocardial damage (p<0.01). I conclusion, serum TnT levels increased significantly at very early stage of myocardial damage and persisted much longer period than CK-MB. This suggests that serum TnT has more advantage and availability in assessing the perioperatively myocardial damage than any other tests.

Changes of Serum Troponin-T Concentrations in Patients with Open Heart Surgery / 대한흉부외과학회지

This study was designed to identify the efficiency of serum troponin-T (s-TnT) level as a diagnostic indicator for the perioperative myocardial damage with open heart surgery (OHS) and to compare with the conventional myocardial enzyme tests such as isoenzyme fraction of creatine kinase (% CK-MB) and isoenzyme ratio of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH1/LDH2 ratio). The study was performed on 30 adult patients who underwent OHS from Jan. 1996 to June 1996 at Inje University Pusan Paik Hospital, and they were divided into two groups accorfding to aortic clamping time (ACT) duration : group I (ACT60 minutes, n=15). S-TnT, % CK-MB, and LDH1/LDH2 ratio were measured in serial blood samples from all subjected patients. The results were obtained as follows. 1. In both groups, s-TnT concentrations increased gradually during OHS and elevated significantly at CPB-10 (p0.05). 4. The serial changes of s-TnT were relatively well correlated with those of changes of % CK-MB (r=0.64, p<0.05). 5. The serial s-TnT levels were significantly higher in group II than group I from B-ACR to POD 1 (p<0.05), suggesting that duration of aortic clamping time was a major factor concerned with perioperative myocardial injury. In conclusion, measurement of s-TnT is a very useful indicator in assessing the myocardial cell damage and therefore it is expected that serial checking and evaluation of the s-TnT is very available for identification of the perioperative myocardial damage and for postoperative cares in patients with OHS.