Acta Cardiologica Sinica
中華民國心臟學會,正常發行
選擇卷期
- 期刊
Background: The aim of this study was to assess the acute hemodynamic effects of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on coronary perfusion pressure and coronary collateral blood flow. Methods: A total of 17 patients with coronary heart disease with severe (70%-85%) stenosis in one or two vessels confirmed by angiography were enrolled into this study. They were randomly divided into the RIPC group (9 patients) and the control group (8 patients). Distal pressure of coronary artery stenosis before balloon dilation (non-occlusive pressure, P_(n-occl)) and distal coronary artery occlusive pressure (P_(occl)) during balloon dilation occlusion were measured in all patients. The patients in the RIPC group received three cycles of lower limb ischemia-reperfusion preconditioning (5 minutes inflation of a blood pressure cuff, followed by 5 minutes reperfusion). For controls, the cuff was not inflated. After this process, P_(n-occl) and P_(occl) were measured again in each patient. Results: Therewere no significant differences in angiographic characteristics between the two groups (all p ＞ 0.05). Troponin I (TNI) levels after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were lower in the RIPC group than in the control group (p = 0.004). In the RIPC group, mean P_(n-occl) and P_(occl) were significantly increased after RIPC compared to before RIPC [(72.78 ± 10.10) mmHg vs. (79.67 ± 9.79) mmHg, p = 0.002, (20.89 ± 8.61) mmHg vs. (26.78 ± 10.73) mmHg, p = 0.001, respectively]. Conclusions: RIPC can improve distal coronary perfusion pressure and rapidly increase distal coronary occlusive pressure thereby improving coronary collateral blood flow.
- 期刊
Background: Adropin is a peptide hormone expressed in coronary artery endothelial cells, which plays a potential endothelial protective role. We sought to assess whether serum adropin levels are correlated with the coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP). Methods: We enrolled 82 patients with angiographically confirmed CSFP and 184 age-matched controls. Serum adropin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and coronary flow rate was assessed using thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC). CSFP was defined as a corrected TIMI-TFC greater than two standard deviations from the normal range. Results: Serum adropin levels were significantly lower in the CSFP patients (n = 82) than in the controls (n = 184) (4.03 ± 1.99 vs. 4.86 ± 1.88 ng/ml, p = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that serum adropin was the only independent negative predictor of CSFP (odds ratio 0.758, 95% confidence interval 0.647-0.888, p = 0.001). Serum adropin levels were independently and negatively correlated with mean TFC (r = -0.387, p ＜ 0.001). Conclusions: We demonstrated that decreased serum adropin levels were independently associated with the presence and severity of angiographically proven CSFP. These findings suggest that serum adropin may be a potential biomarker to provide valuable information regarding the prediction of CSFP.
- 期刊
Background: Treatment for extensive aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) includes endovascular interventions, hybrid procedures and surgical reconstruction. This study evaluated the short-term outcomes of endovascular and hybrid procedures in patients with Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II (TASC-II) D AIOD lesions. Materials and Methods: From January 2013 to June 2015, 41 patients with TASC-II D AIOD lesions who underwent revascularization at our institute were retrospectively included. Nineteen underwent endovascular procedures and 22 underwent hybrid procedures with a postoperative surveillance program for at least 1 year. Patient demographics and short-term outcomes were analyzed. Results: The procedural success rate in all patients was 100%. The accumulative postoperative complication rate was 20.2%, and the major complication was acute kidney injury (14.6%). The time of freedom from target lesion revascularization was 18.9 months. The primary patency rates in the endovascular group were 89.5% and 84.2% at 1 and 2 years, respectively, compared to 95.5% at 1 and 2 years in the hybrid group; however, the difference was not significant (p = 0.234). The secondary patency rates were 94.7% and 93% at 1 and 2 years, respectively, in the endovascular group, and 95.5% and 94% at 1 and 2 years, respectively, in the hybrid group; however, the differences was not significant (p = 0.916). Conclusions: Our study revealed that endovascular and hybrid procedures are favorable treatment choices for patients with TASC-II D AIOD lesions. In patients with multilevel steno-occlusive lesions, hybrid procedures improved distal runoff flow and reduced the complexity of endovascular procedures.
- 期刊
Background: Although left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is a major cause of morbidity in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, there is limited data on cardiac functions of these patients. Compared to the conventional echocardiography, the global longitudinal strain (GLS) can detect subclinical myocardial dysfunction at an earlier stage. Objectives: In our study, we aimed to evaluate left ventricular systolic functions using the GLS in HIV-infected patients and to investigate the effect of cluster of differentiation 4 T-cell values on LVSD. Methods: This prospective, case-control study included a total of 65 HIV-infected patients and 48 healthy volunteers. Conventional and strain echocardiography were performed on all participants. In HIV-infected patients, CD4 T-cell counts and HIV-ribonucleic acid (HIV-RNA) values were measured. Results: The median CD4 T-cell count was 529.65 cells/mm^3 in the HIV-infected patients and median duration of living with HIV was 16.25 (range: 2 to 120) months. Baseline characteristics and left ventricular ejection fraction values were similar in both groups. However, there was a significant difference in the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, interventricular septum, left ventricular posterior wall, and GLS between the groups (p = 0.013, p = 0.005, 0.041, p = 0.013, and p = 0.003, respectively). There was a positive correlation between GLS and CD4 levels (r = 0.463, p ＜ 0.001). Conclusions: Our study results suggest that reduced CD4 T-cell counts in HIV-infected patients may cause myocardial dysfunction and GLS can be useful to show subtle LVSD asymptomatic cases.
- 期刊
Background: Neurological complications are an important concern in the repair of type A aortic dissection. Supra-aortic involvement is considered to be an important risk factor for neurological injuries. However, the optimal brain protection strategy still remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and short-term results of retrograde cerebral protection techniques in the treatment of acute type A aortic dissection. Methods: Between 2005 and 2013, 185 patients who underwent repair of acute type A aortic dissection were enrolled in this study, all of whom received retrograde cerebral perfusion. The patients were divided into two group: 102 patients who had at least one carotid artery involved as the carotid dissection group, and 83 patients who had no carotid artery involvement as the non-carotid dissection group. Results: The mean age of the patients was 57.8 years and 69% were male. The 30-day mortality rate was 10.3%, and the overall in-hospital mortality rate was 11.9%. Eight patients (4.3%) developed new permanent neurological deficits (PNDs) including two in the non-carotid dissection group and six in the carotid dissection group. Although new PND was milder in the carotid dissection group, there was no significant difference (p = 0.248). The proportion of patients who received a coronary artery bypass graft was significantly higher in the carotid dissection group (1 vs. 8, p = 0.037). Conclusions: According to our study, the retrograde cerebral perfusion technique is an easy and safe procedure, especially for patients with concomitant carotid dissection.
- 期刊
Background: Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is one of the most common supraventricular tachycardia substrates. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the excellent outcomes of cryoablation without fluoroscopy in pediatric patients with AVNRT. Methods: From September 2015 to October 2016, a transcatheter cryoablation procedure was performed in 109 patients using the EnSite® system. After electrophysiologic studies, a cryoablation catheter was advanced for the purpose of ablation of the slow pathway. Six to eight lesions were delivered in 240-300 seconds at -70 °C, with special effort being paid to obtain an eyeball formation around the first effective lesion. Results: The mean weight and age of the patients were 24.6 ± 5.3 kg (15-68 kg) and 9.8 ± 2.6 years (5-18 years), respectively. The mean procedure time was 109.8 ± 46 minutes, and the acute procedural success rate was excellent (100%). Ablation procedures were performed during induced tachycardia in 67 patients and during sinus rhythm in 42. The mean follow-up period was 13.3 ± 5.8 months (4-17 months). Recurrence was noted in one patient during the follow-up period who received the ablation procedure with a 6-mm tip catheter. No recurrence was noted among the patients treated with an 8-mm cryocatheter. No permanent cryoablation-related complications occurred. Conclusions: Cryoablation using an electroanatomic mapping system is safe and effective in pediatric patients with AVNRT, and has the advantage of avoiding ionizing radiation.
- 期刊
Background: Ischemia of the atria and conductive system of the heart results in greater atrial electrophysiological changes and propensity for atrial fibrillation. P wave duration and dispersion have been proposed to be useful for the prediction of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). This study aimed to investigate the effect of coronary artery dominance on P wave duration and dispersion. Methods: The study population included 194 patients with left dominant circulation (LDC) and 200 age- and gender-matched controls with right dominant circulation (RDC) and without coronary artery disease based on invasive coronary angiography findings. P wave dispersion (PWD) was defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum P wave duration. Arrhythmias were identified by 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram at 3 years of follow-up. Results: PWD was significantly prolonged in the patients with LDC compared to the controls with RDC (p = 0.001). There were positive correlations between PWD and age (r: 0.502, p = 0.009), left ventricular mass (LVM) (r: 0.614, p = 0.001), LVM index (r: 0.727, p ＜ 0.001) and left atrium (LA) diameter (r: 0.558, p = 0.003) in the LDC group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, LVM index, LA diameter and LDC were independent predictors of prolonged PWD. At 3 years of follow-up, 7 (3.9%) patients with LDC and 1 (0.5%) patient with RDC had PAF in Holter electrocardiogram (p ＜ 0.001). Conclusions: LDC could lead to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation through prolonged PWD. We recommend following up these patients to assess the development of atrial fibrillation.
- 期刊
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) presents a potential challenge when performing coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). To date, there is no ideal protocol for CTA in patients with AF. We sought to design a protocol for single-heartbeat coronary CTA in patients with AF. Methods: We enrolled 32 patients with AF and a very low probability of coronary artery disease who were referred for CTA to assess pulmonary vein anatomy for catheter ablation. A 256-slice scanner was used. Twelve patients underwent CTA using non-gated triple Flash (NGTF) consisting of three prospective electrocardiogram (ECG)-triggered helical scans with a built-in ECG simulator, while retrospectively gated helical (RGH) was used in 20 patients. Radiation dose, and a 4-point scale was used to assess coronary artery image quality between CTA scan modes. Results: A total of 96 vessels were analyzed. The 4-point score showed no significant differences between the RGH and NGTF scans (2.9 ± 0.6 vs. 2.8 ± 0.8, respectively; p = 0.34). The number of coronary arteries with extensive blurring did not significantly differ between the protocols, and included four vessels (6.6%) in RGH vs. three vessels (8.3%) in NGTF (p = 0.5). Radiation exposure was significantly higher with RGH scans, with a dose-length product of 835 ± 146mGy compared with 382 ± 35 mGy for NGTF (p ＜ 0.0001). Conclusions: Single heartbeat NGTF CTA has comparable image quality and significantly lower radiation dose compared to RGH scans in patients with AF. Whether this protocol can be used in next-generation computed tomography scanners has yet to be determined.