Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 and Osteopontin Gene Expression in Epicardial Adipose Tissue from Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Is Associated with the Presence of Calcified Atherosclerotic Plaques.

PURPOSE: It has been proposed that the cardiovascular effects of obesity are related to epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), which seems to play an active role on the development and calcification of atherosclerotic plaques, but the mechanisms are still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the EAT expresses the genes of calcifying factors and whether such expression is associated with the body mass index (BMI) and with the presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with CAD were enrolled specifically for this study, and their CAC score and EAT volume were determined by computed tomography. As the group of comparison, 41 patients with aortic valve stenosis and CAC = 0 were included (control group). A representative subgroup of 16 CAD patients and 23 controls were selected to obtain EAT biopsies during the chirurgical procedure from the atrio-interventricular groove. The mRNA expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and -4 (BMP-2, BMP-4), osteopontin (OPN), osteonectin (ON), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in EAT was determined by qPCR. RESULTS: The gene expression of OPN and BMP-2 was 70% and 52% higher in the EAT from CAD patients than that in controls, respectively, whereas the expression of OPG, ON, and BMP-4 was similar in both groups. The EAT volume positively correlated with OPG and with the BMI, suggesting a relationship of obesity with local higher expression of calcifying genes in the coronary territory. The logistic regression analysis showed that high levels of both OPN and BMP-2 increased about 6 and 8 times the odds of coronary calcification (CAC score > 0), respectively. CONCLUSION: EAT correlated with BMI and expressed the mRNA of calcifying genes but only OPN and BMP-2 expression was higher in CAD patients. Higher levels of both OPN and BMP-2 statistically determined the presence of calcium in coronary arteries of CAD patients.

[New treatments for heart failure?]. / Nuevas terapéuticas para la insuficiencia cardíaca?

Treatment of chronic heart failure still needs to be improved. Blockade of ET-1 and TNF-alpha, as well as the combined inhibition of ACE and NE have demonstrated limited benefits, thus other strategies continue being evaluated. This article reviews current concepts regarding the blockade of arginine vasopressin receptors (AVP) and the selective inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Results with AVP blockade in humans have been encouraging, whereas inhibitors of MMPs continue under preclinical experimental phases and are controversial.

[Pacemaker stimulation in dilated and hypertrophic myocardiopathies: should its use be stratified?]. / Estimulación con marcapasos en las miocardiopatías dilatada e hipertrófica: se debe estratificar su indicación?

New indications for permanent cardiac pacing have been developed in recent years, with numerous studies demonstrating improved clinical outcomes in many disorders. These techniques have been used in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy, and many physiological bases and clinical studies justify their application. In dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure with intraventricular conduction delay, abnormal electrical depolarization of the heart results in mechanical asynchrony of the ventricles. Tricameral pacing (atrial-based biventricular) offers an alternative and conditions ventricular synchronization. The MUSTIC study, a controlled, randomized, crossover study, showed promising results, significantly improving exercise tolerance and quality of life, and increasing in diastolic ventricular filling period. Several ongoing randomized, controlled clinical trials should provide more definitive data on safety, efficacy, and decreased mortality. Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy has many therapeutic approaches such as, medical treatment, dual chamber pacing, surgery, and transcatheter septal ablation. Dual chamber pacing has been shown to improve symptoms and hemodynamic variables in patients severely symptomatic. However, randomized clinical trials (PIC and M-PATHY) have not shown conclusive evidence regarding the long-term benefit from pacing in these patients. Moreover, relationship between reduction in the intraventricular gradient and improvement of symptoms is controversial; there might be a significant placebo effect. Cardiac pacing is an alternative therapy for selected patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but very careful screening of patients is mandatory.

Utilidad de la medición del tiempo de relajación isométrica del ventrículo izquierdo con eco/Doppler durante la administración de dipiridamol o dobutamina como maniobra provocadora de isquemia miocárdica / Utility of the measurement of the isovolumetric relaxation time of the left ventricle with echo/Doppler during the administration of dipyridamole or dobutamine as triggering maneuver of myocardial ischemia

La isquemia miocárdica prolongada la relajación ventricular. El objetivo del estudio fue valorar las alteraciones en el tiempo de relajación isométrica del ventrículo izquierdo (TRIV), como parámetro de relajación ventricular global, medido con Doppler pulsado durante la administración de Dipiridamol o Dobutamina intravenosos. Estudiamos 58 pacientes con sospecha clínica o con cardiopatía isquémica demostrada, durante la administración de fármacos como maniobra provocadora de isquemia. Se dividieron en dos grupos: 22 pacientes en el grupo Dipiridamol, que se administró a dosis de 0.84 mg/kg en 10 min y 36 pacientes en el grupo de Dobutamina, administrada a dosis de 5, 10, 20, 30 y 40 mcg/kg/min en etapas de tres minutos. A todos los pacientes se les practicó coronariografía en el mismo internamiento. Las mediciones de las velocidades máximas E y A, así como el tiempio de desaceleración de la onda E y el tiempo de hemipresión del flujo mitral, no mostraron cambios significativos en ambos grupos. En los estudios positivos por criterios de alteración de la movilidad parietal, el TRIVI corregido para la frecuencia cardiaca (TRIVI/C) se incrementó hasta en 54 por ciento (p< 0.01), sobre los valores de control del mismo paciente en el grupo de Dipiridamol. En el grupo de Dobutamina, con los mismos criterios de positividad, el TRIVI/C se incrementó en 26 por ciento (p < 0.20). En la detección de obstrucción significativa proximal de la coronaria descendente anterior o de enfermedad trivascular, en el grupo de Dipiridamol, el incremento del TRIVI/C tuvo sensibilidad, el incremento del TRIVI/C tuvo sensibilidad (S), especificidad (E) y valor predictivo positivo (VPP) de 50 por ciento y 100 por ciento, respectivamente. En el grupo de Dobutamina, la S fue de 71 por ciento, la E de 60 por ciento y el VPP de 89 por ciento. Con ninguno de los fármacos se observó prolongación significativa del TRIVI/C en ausensia de alteraciones de la movilidad o sin acentuación de las alteraciones preexistentes. La medición del TRIVI/C, en estudios con maniobras farmacológicas provocadoras de isquemia, es un parámetro útil para diferenciar los resultados positivos de los negativos, agregado a los criterios de alteraciones segmentarias de la movilidad parietal