Correlation between electromechanical parameters (NOGA XP) and changes of myocardial ischemia in patients with refractory angina.

INTRODUCTION: Cell therapy has the potential to improve symptoms and clinical outcomes in refractory angina (RFA). Further analyses are needed to evaluate factors influencing its therapeutic effectiveness. AIM: Assessment of electromechanical (EM) parameters of the left ventricle (LV) and investigation of correlation between EM parameters of the myocardium and response to CD133+ cell therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients with RFA (16 active and 14 placebo individuals) enrolled in the REGENT-VSEL trial underwent EM evaluation of the LV with intracardiac mapping system. The following parameters were analyzed: unipolar voltage (UV), bipolar voltage (BV), local linear shortening (LLS). Myocardial ischemia was evaluated with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The median value of each EM parameter was used for intra-group comparisons. RESULTS: Global EM parameters (UV, BV, LLS) of LV in active and placebo groups were 11.28 mV, 3.58 mV, 11.12%, respectively; 13.00 mV, 3.81 mV, 11.32%, respectively. EM characteristics analyzed at global and segmental levels did not predict response to CD133+ cell therapy in patients with RFA (Global UV, BV and LLS at rest R = -0.06; R = 0.2; R = -0.1 and at stress: R = 0.07, R = 0.09, R = -0.1, respectively; Segmental UV, BV, LLS at rest R = -0.2, R = 0.03, R = -0.4 and at stress R = 0.02, R = 0.2, R = -0.2, respectively). Multiple linear regression of the treated segments showed that only pre-injection SPECT levels were significantly correlated with post-injection SPECT, either at rest or stress (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Electromechanical characteristics of the left ventricle do not predict changes of myocardial perfusion by SPECT after cell therapy. Baseline SPECT results are only predictors of changes of myocardial ischemia observed at 4-month follow-up.

Serum Concentrations of Osteogenesis/Osteolysis-Related Factors and Micro-RNA Expression in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis and bone metabolism share similar molecular and cellular mechanisms. This study aims to evaluate (1) serum concentration of osteogenesis/osteolysis factors panel (Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1), TNF-α, N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide (NT-proANP), thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2), osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (sRANKL), tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9)), (2) serum expression levels of micro-RNA- (miR-) 24-1 and miR-6802, and (3) assess their correlation with myocardial injury and LV remodeling and function in the acute phase of STEMI and after 3 months. METHODS: Study enrolled 25 STEMI patients (mean age 55.4 ± 8.96 years). Blood samples were collected 4 days and 3 months after myocardial infarction. Serum concentrations of osteogenesis/osteolysis factors were measured using the Luminex assay. Analysis of miR-24-1, and miR-6802 expression was performed with qPCR. LV function and remodeling were assessed by MRI during index hospitalization and 3 months later. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in serum levels of osteogenesis/osteolysis factors and expression of miR-24-1 and miR-6802 between the acute phase and 3-month follow-up. The levels were similar in patients with at least ≥5% improvement of LVEF (n = 10) and those without improvement. There was a negative correlation between the OPG serum level and LVEF during the acute phase of myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: In STEMI patients, serum concentrations of osteogenesis/osteolysis factors, as well as miR-24-1 and miR-6802 expression, do not change significantly within the 3-month follow-up and are not correlated with LV remodeling and function.

A single-centre, randomised study on platelet reactivity after abrupt or gradual discontinuation of long-term clopidogrel therapy in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies have suggested increased risk of thrombotic events after planned cessation of clopidogrel therapy, due to increased platelet reactivity (platelet rebound); however, in many studies platelet function was not assessed before introducing clopidogrel. Patients who are scheduled to stop clopidogrel therapy, do it abruptly, so a gradual drug cessation might provide a beneficial treatment strategy. AIM: To determine whether a clopidogrel discontinuation results in platelet rebound hyperaggregability with increased activity compared to pre-treatment values and to assess whether abrupt or tapering clopidogrel cessation may affect platelet reactivity. METHODS: Patients with stable coronary artery disease (n = 49), on chronic acetylsalicylic acid treatment, who underwent coronary angiography, and were scheduled for elective percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation were en-rolled. Patients were randomised to either a tapering clopidogrel discontinuation during a two-week period (tapering group, n = 25) or abrupt drug cessation (abrupt group, n = 24). After 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid, we performed three follow-up visits with blood sampling. Platelet aggregation was assessed using a mul-tiple electrode aggregometer at inclusion, at cessation day, and seven and 14 days after complete clopidogrel discontinuation. The primary endpoint was the level of adenosine-diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation. We also analysed platelet function in the ASPI test and platelet count as secondary endpoints. RESULTS: In 36 patients included in the main analysis, we found significant differences between the two study groups in the levels of ADP-induced platelet aggregation at days seven and 14 after cessation of clopidogrel (p = 0.004 and p = 0.04, respectively). In the abrupt group, platelet aggregation returned to the values similar to baseline at day seven. There were no significant differences between baseline, seven, and 14 days after drug cessation (p = 0.92 and p = 0.37, respectively). However, in the tapering group, ADP values at seven and 14 days after drug cessation were significantly decreased, comparing to baseline (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.009, respectively). For the ASPI test and platelet count we did not find significant differ-ences between the groups. All values returned to levels similar to the baseline. During the follow-up there were no serious cardiovascular events or bleedings. CONCLUSIONS: Tapering vs. abrupt discontinuation of clopidogrel treatment results in significantly lower platelet aggregation values after 14 days from complete drug cessation. We found no evidence of a platelet rebound effect.

Coronary artery calcium in type 2 diabetes: a nested case­control study.

INTRODUCTION: The use of classic risk scores in patients with type 2 diabetes have numerous limitations. Relationships between coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and traditional risk factors are derived from statistical analyses. At present, there are no data on the evaluation of the CACS on 64­slice multi-detector computed tomography in patients with type 2 diabetes and ischemic symptoms based on a head­to­head comparison with matched nondiabetics. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the associations between traditional risk factors and the CACS in a nested case­control study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 2482 consecutive symptomatic subjects with known CACS. We identified 325 patients with type 2 diabetes. From the remaining subjects, 325 controls matched for age, sex, and risk factors were selected. RESULTS:  Higher CACS values were observed in patients with diabetes (median, 50 Agatston units [AU]; range, 0-4330) compared with nondiabetic controls (9 AU, 0-3036, P <0.001). Positive CACS values were more common in diabetic patients (73.5%) compared with nondiabetic controls (60.9%, P <0.001). The highest CACS value was observed in men (95.5 AU, 0-3755). The median CACS value in nondiabetic men was comparable to those in diabetic women (24.5 AU, 0-3036 vs. 24.5 AU, 0-3755). The lowest CACS values were observed in control women (3 AU, 0-2144). Coronary artery calcium was more diffused in diabetic patients compared with controls (P <0.01). A multivariate analysis showed that older age and male sex were independent predictors of the CACS. Traditional risk factors accounted only for 10% of interindividual variance in the presence of calcified atherosclerotic plaques. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary calcified lesions are more frequent in symptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes compared with matched nondiabetic subjects. Our results seem to provide evidence that traditional risk factors do not explain more common, diffuse, and extensive calcified lesions in diabetic subjects.

ARISTOTLE RE-LYs on the ROCKET. What's new in stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation?

Warfarin has long been considered the gold standard for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, three major trials comparing the efficacy and safety of new drugs: a thrombin inhibitor dabigatran and two inhibitors of factor Xa - rivaroxaban and apixaban, with that of warfarin, have been published. The aim of this paper is to present the main results of the RE-LY, ROCKET AF and ARISTOTLE trials, compare study populations and outcomes, and discuss clinical implications of their results for the long-term anticoagulation in patients with nonvalvular AF.

Endothelium dysfunction markers in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetes mellitus leads to endothelium dysfunction and an accelerated progression of atherosclerosis. Vascular complications of diabetes mellitus can affect not only large and medium arteries resulting in coronary heart disease and peripheral arteries diseases, but also small vessels leading to retinopathy and nephropathy. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and von Willebrand factor (vWF) are considered as markers of endothelium dysfunction. The aim of our study was to evaluate plasma levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and vWF in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving insulin therapy and who had diabetic non-proliferative retinopathy, proliferative retinopathy, or did not develop diabetic retinopathy. There were no statistically significant differences between studied groups in any of evaluated endothelium dysfunction markers. There was no statistically significant correlation between measured parameters and a period of diabetic history. None of the studied markers presented a significant correlation with a period of insulin treatment.