Role of Statins in the Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in the Population with Mean Cholesterol in the Near-Optimal to Borderline High Range: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this meta-analysis was to analyze the benefits and harms of treating the population with statins in those having mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the near-optimal (100 to 129 mg/dl) to borderline high (130 to 159 mg/dl) range and free of cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: We searched PubMed, PubMed Central, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 1994 and July 2020. We included RCTs with greater than 90% of participants free of CVD. Two reviewers independently screened the articles using the Covidence software, assessed the methodological quality using the risk of bias 2 tool, and analyzed the data using the RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS: Eleven trials were included. Statin therapy was associated with a decreased risk of myocardial infarction (RR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.67), major cerebrovascular events (RR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.96), major coronary events (RR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.80), composite cardiovascular outcome (RR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.62 to 0.82), revascularizations (RR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.74), angina (RR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.92), and hospitalization for cardiovascular causes (RR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.64 to 0.86). There was no benefit associated with statin therapy for cardiovascular mortality and coronary heart disease mortality. All-cause mortality benefit with statin therapy was seen in the population with diabetes and increased risk of CVD. Statin therapy was associated with no significant increased risk of myalgia, creatine kinase elevation, rhabdomyolysis, myopathy, incidence of any cancer, incidence of diabetes, withdrawal of the drug due to adverse events, serious adverse events, fatal cancer, and liver enzyme abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Statin therapy was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and procedures without increased risk of harm in populations with mean LDL-C in the near-optimal to the borderline high range and without prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Prognostic value of frontal QRS-T angle in predicting survival after primary percutaneous coronary revascularization/coronary artery bypass grafting for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Frontal QRS-T angle (FQRST) has previously been correlated with mortality in patients with stable coronary artery disease, but its role as survival predictor after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unknown. METHODS: We evaluated 267 consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing reperfusion or coronary artery bypass grafting. Data assessed included demographics, clinical presentation, electrocardiograms, medical therapy, and one-year mortality. RESULTS: Of 267 patients, 187 (70%) were males and most (49.4%) patients were Caucasian. All-cause mortality was significantly higher among patients with the highest (101-180°) FQRST [28% vs. 15%, p = 0.02]. Patients with FQRST 1-50° had higher survival (85.6%) compared with FQRST = 51-100° (72.3%) and FQRST = 101-180° (67.9%), [log rank, p = 0.01]. Adjusting for significant variables identified during univariate analysis, FQRST (OR = 2.04 [95% CI: 1.31-13.50]) remained an independent predictor of one-year mortality. FQRST-based risk score (1-50° = 0 points, 51-100° = 2 points, 101-180° = 5 points) had excellent discriminatory ability for one-year mortality when combined with Mayo Clinic Risk Score (C statistic = 0.875 [95%CI: 0.813-0.937]. A high (>4 points) FQRST risk score was associated with greater mortality (32% vs. 19%, p = 0.02) and longer length of stay (6 vs. 2 days, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: FQRST represents a novel independent predictor of one-year mortality in patients with STEMI undergoing reperfusion. A high FQRST-based risk score was associated with greater mortality and longer length of stay and, after combining with Mayo Clinic Risk Score, improved discriminatory ability for one-year mortality.

The relative roles of power, linear endovenous energy density, and pullback velocity in determining short-term success after endovenous laser ablation of the truncal saphenous veins.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the relative contributions of power output, linear endovenous energy density (LEED), and pullback rate (PBR) in determining successful long-term occlusion of the truncal saphenous veins after endovenous laser ablation (EVLA). METHODS: A consecutive 203 patients (336 ablated veins) with reflux of the great saphenous vein or small saphenous vein (Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathophysiology class C2-C6) defined by duplex ultrasound and clinical criteria were treated with 1470-nm EVLA at a power of 6 to 12 W. Prospective outcomes were evaluated in serial clinical and duplex ultrasound follow-up. Univariate logistic regression (ULR) and multivariable logistic regression modeling assessed LEED, power output, and PBR as success predictors and optimal settings for sustained closure. RESULTS: Higher power outputs (8-12 W) were significantly better than lower outputs (6-7 W) for successful closure. ULR suggested a ≥90% probability of success for power output >10.34 W (P < .001) and LEED >26.56 J/cm (P = .001). Power output was foremost (P < .001) and LEED second (P < .001), and PBR was insignificant overall (P = .38), becoming significant only at LEED values >26 J/cm (P < .001). Multivariable logistic regression confirmed both power (P < .040) and LEED (P < .008) but not PBR (P = .69) as significant determinants. Clinical side effects were not associated by ULR with power output (P = .14), LEED (P = .71), or PBR (P = .39). CONCLUSIONS: Power and LEED are separate but important determinants of short-term EVLA success. Threshold-dependent effects are observed for PBR (LEED ≤26 J/cm or ≥26 J/cm), with significant PBR correlation seen only at higher LEED values. Whereas ideal values for power and LEED differ according to the clinical scenario, our findings suggest that use of higher power outputs and greater LEED values (≥90% success probability achieved with power >10.34 W or LEED >26.56 J/cm) may yield optimal results.

Finding the sweet spot for non-apical RV pacing - "love's labor's lost or much ado about nothing:" a new angiographic technique to accomplish accurate physiological RV septal pacing in under 5 minutes from venous cannulation (or bust).

Right ventricular septal pacing has been long touted as a more physiologic alternative to right ventricular apical pacing. This article reviews the physiologic and clinical evidence for right ventricular septal versus apical pacing, and presents a novel angiographic technique for efficient attainment of the optimal septal pacing site. The reasons for equivocal clinical findings in septal versus apical pacing studies are discussed, and a new strategy for non-apical pacing clinical trial design utilizing comparative anatomic assessment of septal pacing site versus clinical outcome is proposed.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio predicts short- and long-term mortality following revascularization therapy for ST elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Several inflammation biomarkers have been implicated in the pathogenesis and prognosis of acute coronary syndromes. However, the prognostic role of the neutrophil-lymphocyte white cell interactive response to myocardial injury in predicting short- and long-term mortality after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains poorly defined. METHODS: We evaluated 250 consecutive STEMI patients presenting acutely for revascularization to our tertiary care center over 1 year. Patients with acute sepsis, trauma, recent surgery, autoimmune diseases, or underlying malignancy were excluded. Data gathered included demographics, clinical presentation, leukocyte markers, electrocardiograms, evaluations, therapy,major adverse cardiac events, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Mean age was 62 ± 15 years, 70.4% of subjects were males while majority (49.4%) were Caucasians. Mean duration of follow-up was 571 ± 291 days (median 730 days). Univariate analysis of several inflammatory biomarkers including C-reactive protein, revealed white cell count (OR = 1.09, p < 0.001) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (OR = 1.05, p = 0.011) as predictors of short- and long-term mortality; but not mean neutrophil count (OR = 1.04, p = 0.055) or lymphocyte count alone (OR = 0.96, p = 0.551). Multivariate analysis using backward stepwise regression revealed NLR (OR = 2.64, p = 0.026), female gender (OR = 5.35, p < 0.001), cerebrovascular accident history (OR = 3.36, p = 0.023), low glomerular filtration rate (OR = 0.98, p = 0.012) and cardiac arrest on admission (OR = 17.43, p < 0.001) as robust independent predictors of long-term mortality. NLR was divided into two sub-groups based on an optimal cut off value of 7.4. This provided the best discriminatory cut off point for predicting adverse mortality outcome. Both short-term (≤ 30 days) and long-term (≤ 2 years) mortality were predicted with Kaplan-Meier survival curve separation best stratified by a NLR cut off value of 7.4. CONCLUSIONS: NLR based on an optimal cut off value of 7.4, was an excellent predictor of short- and long-term survival in patients with revascularized STEMI and warrants larger scale multi-center prospective evaluation, as a prognostic indicator. NLR offers improved prognostic capacity when combined with conventional clinical scoring systems, such as the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction risk score.

Multimodality imaging of right-sided (tricuspid valve) papillary fibroelastoma: recognition of a surgically remediable disease.

Presentation of an increasingly recognized right-sided primary valve tumor of clinical importance: the tricuspid valve papillary fibroelastoma (PF). Early recognition and surgical intervention is emphasized for valvular PF, which carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Newer imaging techniques, including CT and MRI, assist in localizing and differentiating PF from alternative cardiac pathology.

Alcaligenes xylosoxidans endocarditis of a prosthetic valve and pacemaker in a 62-year-old woman.

The bacterium Alcaligenes xylosoxidans is known to cause several nosocomial infections; however, it rarely causes endocarditis, which has a very high mortality rate. Early isolation of the infection source and prompt identification of the patient's antibiotic sensitivities are paramount if the infection is to be treated adequately. We present what is apparently only the second documented case of the successful eradication of bioprosthetic valve endocarditis that was caused by pacemaker lead infection with Alcaligenes xylosoxidans. A 62-year-old woman with multiple comorbidities presented with endocarditis of a recently placed bioprosthetic aortic valve. The infection was secondary to pacemaker lead infection. She underwent antibiotic therapy, but an unusual pattern of antibiotic resistance developed. Despite initially adequate therapy, the infection recurred because of virulence induced by antibiotic resistance. Emergent, high-risk surgical treatment involved excising the infected valve and removing the source of the infection (the pacemaker leads). The patient eventually recovered after prolonged antibiotic therapy and close vigilance for recurrent infection. In addition to the patient's case, we discuss the features of this bacteremia and the challenges in its diagnosis.