Predictors of In-Hospital De-Escalation of P2Y12 Inhibitors to Clopidogrel in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Ticagrelor or prasugrel are recommended to reduce ischemic events in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, in clinical practice, patients are often switched from a potent P2Y12 inhibitor to clopidogrel prior to or at discharge ('de-escalation'). We sought to assess the incidence and predictors of de-escalation. METHODS: Consecutive patients who received either a ticagrelor or prasugrel loading dose for AMI PCI at two tertiary centers between Jan 2015-Mar 2019 who survived to discharge were included. Data were obtained from the electronic health record and institutional NCDR CathPCI data. Patients who were de-escalated to clopidogrel were compared with those who remained on potent P2Y12 inhibitors through the time of discharge. RESULTS: Of the1818 patients in the cohort, 1146 (63%) were de-escalated. Patients in the de-escalation group were older, more often Black, had lower prevalence of co-morbidities, less often had private insurance, and had less complex PCI. After adjustment, older age remained positively associated (OR 1.2, CI 1.08-1.34, p = .001) and Caucasian race (OR 0.5, CI 0.33-0.77, p = .002), prior MI (OR 0.7, CI 0.5-0.97, p = .032), bifurcation lesion (OR 0.71, CI 0.53-0.95, p = .019), and greater number of stents (OR 0.82, CI 0.75-0.91, p = .0001) were negatively associated with de-escalation. In de-escalated patients, the rationale was not documented in 75.9% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: De-escalation occurred frequently in patients with AMI and was associated with both non-clinical and clinical factors. Medical decision making was poorly documented and represent an area for improvement.

Progenitor Cells and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes.

RATIONALE: Circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) mobilize in response to ischemic injury, but their predictive value remains unknown in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the number of CPCs in ACS compared with those with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), relationship between bone marrow PCs and CPCs, and whether CPC counts predict mortality in patients with ACS. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 2028 patients, 346 had unstable angina, 183 had an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and the remaining 1499 patients had stable CAD. Patients with ACS were followed for the primary end point of all-cause death. CPCs were enumerated by flow cytometry as mononuclear cells expressing a combination of CD34+, CD133+, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2+, or chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4+. CPC counts were higher in subjects with AMI compared those with stable CAD even after adjustment for age, sex, race, body mass index, renal function, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking; CD34+, CD34+/CD133+, CD34+/CXCR4+, and CD34+/VEGFR2+ CPC counts were 19%, 25%, 28%, and 142% higher in those with AMI, respectively, compared with stable CAD. There were strong correlations between the concentrations of CPCs and the PC counts in bone marrow aspirates in 20 patients with AMI. During a 2 (interquartile range, 1.31-2.86)-year follow-up period of 529 patients with ACS, 12.4% died. In Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, heart failure history, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and AMI, subjects with low CD34+ cell counts had a 2.46-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.18-5.13) increase in all-cause mortality, P=0.01. CD34+/CD133+ and CD34+/CXCR4+, but not CD34+/VEGFR2+ PC counts, had similar associations with mortality. Results were validated in a separate cohort of 238 patients with ACS. CONCLUSIONS: CPC levels are significantly higher in patients after an AMI compared with those with stable CAD and reflect bone marrow PC content. Among patients with ACS, a lower number of hematopoietic-enriched CPCs are associated with a higher mortality.

Natural Approaches in Diabetes Management: A Review of Diet, Exercise, and Natural Products.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a highly prevalent condition that causes significant morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. Conventional therapies include lifestyle modification, oral pharmacological agents, and subcutaneous insulin. Emerging data suggest that natural approaches to the treatment of DM may help supplement current therapies for further glycemic control. Herein, we review the evidence of several natural modalities for DM treatment. We describe the pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications, provide an overview of current pharmacologic treatments, and finally, discuss natural approaches to diabetes management. Specifically, we will describe on the utility of diet, physical activity, and common natural products in the treatment of DM and focus on recent, high-quality studies. Adverse effects and potential interactions of each therapy will be highlighted where applicable.

Relation of Changes in Body Fat Distribution to Oxidative Stress.

Android fat is a surrogate measure of visceral obesity in the truncal region. Both visceral adiposity and oxidative stress (OS) are linked to cardiometabolic risk factors and clinical cardiovascular disease. However, whether body fat distribution (android vs gynoid) is associated with OS remains unknown. We hypothesized that increased android fat will be associated with greater OS. Body fat distribution and markers of OS, including plasma levels of reduced (cysteine and glutathione) and oxidized (cystine and glutathione disulfide) aminothiols, were estimated in 711 volunteers (67% female, 23% black, mean age 48 ± 11) enrolled in the Emory Georgia Tech Predictive Health study. At 1 year, 498 subjects had repeat testing. At baseline, anthropometric and fat distribution indexes, including body mass index, waist circumference, weight/hip ratio, and android and gynoid fat mass correlated with lower plasma concentrations of glutathione and higher cystine levels indicative of higher OS. At 1 year, the change in android but not gynoid fat mass or body mass index negatively correlated with the change in the plasma glutathione level after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Increased body fat, specifically android fat mass, is an independent determinant of systemic OS, and its change is associated with a simultaneous change in OS, measured as plasma glutathione. In conclusion, our findings suggest that excess android or visceral fat contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease through modulating OS.

Changes in truncal obesity and fat distribution predict arterial health.

BACKGROUND: Truncal obesity is associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk. Although vascular health is influenced by weight, it is not known whether changes in fat distribution modulate arterial function. OBJECTIVE: We assessed how changes in truncal (android) fat at 1 year affect arterial stiffness and endothelial function. METHODS: We recruited 711 healthy volunteers (235 males, age 48 ± 11 years) into the Emory Predictive Health Study; 498 returned at 1 year. Measurements included anthropometric and chemistry panels, fat mass using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, arterial stiffness indices (pulse wave velocity [PWV], augmentation index [AIx], and subendocardial viability ratio [SEVR]; Sphygmocor), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and reactive hyperemia index (Endo-PAT). RESULTS: At baseline, measures of body mass correlated with PWV, AIx, SEVR, and FMD. In a multivariable analysis including body mass index (BMI) and traditional risk factors, BMI remained an independent predictor of PWV, AIx, SEVR, and FMD. In a model including BMI and measures of fat distribution, android fat remained an independent predictor of PWV (ß = 0.31, P = .004), AIx (ß = 0.24, P = .008), and SEVR (ß = -0.41, P < .001). The 1-year change in android fat correlated negatively with change in SEVR (ß = -0.13, P = .005) and FMD (ß = -0.13, P = .006) after adjustment for change in gynoid fat. CONCLUSION: In addition to BMI, android fat is a determinant of arterial stiffness, independent of traditional risk factors. Changes in android fat over time are associated with simultaneous changes in vascular function, indicating fat distribution's effect on vascular health.

Lipoprotein-X disease in the setting of severe cholestatic hepatobiliary autoimmune disease.

Severe cholestatic disease and hyperlipidemia are both commonly encountered by medical professionals. This article reviews the current pathophysiological model of lipoprotein-X syndrome related to 3 cases from 2 academic medical centers in the United States.

Cardiovascular disease risk reduction in diabetes through conventional and natural approaches.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant cause of premature complications and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). In addition to lifestyle modifications, conventional treatment of DM consists of oral hypoglycemic agents, insulin sensitizers, and subcutaneous insulin. In diabetic individuals with or at risk for CVD, aspirin and statin therapy reduce CVD morbidity and mortality. Several natural or herbal supplements have shown potential benefit in patients with CVD and DM. We provide an overview of the current guidelines for treatment of DM and CVD. We then review the literature to describe the efficacy of natural approaches to CVD risk reduction in diabetic patients, with a focus on physical activity, dietary modification, and natural/herbal supplements. Activity and diet improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CVD and DM. Natural and herbal supplements have potential for benefit but require further research to determine their efficacy and safety.

Comprehensive Cardiovascular Risk Reduction and Cardiac Rehabilitation in Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome.

The epidemic of obesity has contributed to a growing burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes mellitus (DM) worldwide. MetS is defined as central obesity along with associated factors such as hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. MetS and DM are associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Healthy behavioural modification is the cornerstone for reducing the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease burden in this population. Comprehensive, multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs reduce mortality and hospitalizations in patients with MetS and DM. Despite this benefit, patients with MetS and DM are less likely to attend and complete CR because of numerous barriers. Implementation of innovative CR delivery models might improve utilization of CR and cardiovascular outcomes in this high-risk population.