Management of Coronary Artery Disease

[Max Reger and his early death: could it have been avoided? : Would he have lived longer with adequate intensive care?]

BACKGROUND

Max Reger was an organist, university teacher and composer whose life, illnesses, death and dying are not or hardly known to many.

OBJECTIVES

Which illnesses determined Reger's life and did his lifestyle and illnesses influence his compositional work? Could his early death have been avoided? From today's point of view, could modern intensive care medicine have helped him?

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A detailed analysis of Reger's diseases was performed using scientific databases (medline, pubmed). All published articles were evaluated and examined in detail.

RESULTS

Max Reger was born in Brand in 1873 and received early lessons in violin, piano and organ playing. From 1890 he studied at the conservatory in Sondershausen, later at the conservatory in Wiesbaden. In 1901 he moved to Munich, and in 1907 to Leipzig, where he became university director and professor at the conservatory. Four years later he took over the court chapel in Meiningen, but ended this activity again in 1914. A year later he moved to Jena and wrote his late works in the "Jenaish style". Reger suffered from many illnesses, especially bipolar disorder with manic and depressive phases. He had metabolic syndrome with arterial hypertension, was overweight and smoked incredibly heavily. Overeating ("binge eating" syndrome) and polydipsia were other prominent findings. Reger's life was characterized by alcohol abuse, often aggravated by professional and/or human crises. In 1916 Reger died suddenly and unexpectedly in Leipzig of cardiovascular failure.

DISCUSSION

Reger was an outstanding personality who left behind an extensive oeuvre. Among the highlights of Max Reger's oeuvre are his chorale fantasies such as on "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott" (op. 27) or also the "Fantasia and Fugue on B A C H" (op. 46), but other compositions such as the Mozart Variations (op. 132) and the Clarinet Quintet (op. 146) are also world-famous. His lifestyle certainly favored coronary heart disease, the consequences of which caused Reger's sudden, unexpected and much too early death. Today's modern intensive care medicine could probably have prolonged his life.

Heavy metals and cardiovascular health: Uncovering links and health challenges

BACKGROUND

Heavy metals, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, along with emerging contaminants, pose significant threats to cardiovascular health. These metals are linked to oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and epigenetic alterations, contributing to various cardiovascular diseases.

AIM

This review synthesizes current research on the pathways by which heavy metal exposure affects cardiovascular health, highlighting epidemiological trends, vulnerable populations, and potential preventive strategies.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of molecular mechanisms, epidemiological studies, and public health data was conducted to elucidate the links between heavy metal exposure and cardiovascular health.

RESULTS

Mechanisms of Toxicity: Heavy metals induce oxidative stress and inflammation, impair endothelial function, and disrupt calcium signaling. These effects culminate in hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial dysfunction, and other cardiovascular pathologies. Epidemiological Trends: Evidence links even low-level exposures to increased Cardio Vascular Disease risk. Regional trends show elevated risks in areas with significant industrial activity or contaminated water supplies. Vulnerable Populations: Children, the elderly, and individuals in low-income or industrially polluted regions exhibit heightened susceptibility. Preventive Strategies: Regulatory actions, improved water safety, dietary interventions, and community awareness are critical in mitigating exposure and its health impacts.

CONCLUSIONS

Environmental exposure to heavy metals significantly elevates cardiovascular disease risk, particularly among vulnerable groups. Urgent public health measures and further research are needed to address the cumulative and synergistic effects of these toxicants.

Coronary heart disease with pulmonary embolism: A case report

BACKGROUND

Coronary heart disease (CHD) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are thrombotic diseases. Patients with CHD and PE are common in clinical practice. However, the clinical diagnosis of PE is challenging due to overlapping primary symptoms, such as chest tightness and dyspnea. This confluence frequently leads to the misdiagnosis of PE, thus precipitating treatment delays and compromising patient outcomes. Herein, we report the case of a patient with both diseases who underwent surgery and medication therapy.

CASE SUMMARY

A 51-year-old man with a history of hypertension for 2 years visited a local hospital because of paroxysmal chest tightness for 1 d and was diagnosed with CHD. However, he refused hospitalization. He visited our hospital for the treatment of recurring symptoms. A comprehensive examination after admission revealed elevated D-dimer levels, and computed tomography pulmonary angiography was performed to confirm the diagnosis of PE. The patient successfully underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs and had a prognosis.

CONCLUSION

D-dimer is useful in screening for PE, whereas computed tomography pulmonary angiography is important for diagnosis. For patients with CHD and PE, coronary artery bypass grafting combined with anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy is feasible.

Coronary artery and retinal vascularization by optical coherence tomography angiography: are eyes the window to the heart?

PURPOSE

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and its assessment still relies on invasive diagnostic procedures requiring contrast, such as coronary angiography (CAG) or computed tomography angiography (CCTA). The retinal vasculature is the only microvascular site in the human body that can be assessed non-invasively, and it has been described as a promising method for predicting cardiovascular risk since the classification of hypertensive retinopathy in the 19th century. Unfortunately, most classifications still rely on qualitative findings, which exhibit high rates of interobserver and intraobserver variability. With advances in ophthalmology exams, particularly the advent of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), the capability of quantitatively assessing retinal vasculature can enable a more reliable non-invasive exam that could aid in estimating cardiovascular risk and assessing coronary lesions. This review aims to provide an extensive overview of the available evidence establishing the correlation of retinal and choroidal microvascular damage observed in OCTA and parameters such as coronary stenosis grade, number of affected vessels and scores like Gensini and SYNTAX evaluated via CAG or CCTA.

METHODS

Review of the literature published until December 2024 on PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS and EMBASE by searching "optical coherence tomography angiography" or "OCTA" AND "Coronary artery disease" or "Coronary heart disease".

RESULTS

Findings from sixteen studies suggest a potential correlation between vascular parameters in OCTA and results from coronary exams. Reductions in vessel density analysis of the retinal plexus, especially the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), could improve patient selection and diagnostic yield for more invasive diagnostic procedures, such as CAG and CCTA.

CONCLUSION

OCTA is a non-invasive technology that can provide visualization and quantification of retinal microvascular disfunction that may correlate with macrovascular disease, particularly in the coronary circulation. Longitudinal assessment of quantitative OCTA parameters may provide biomarkers for monitoring CAD patients over time.

Clinical Outcomes and Safety Profiles of Generic Versus Brand-Name Clopidogrel in Patients Following Coronary Artery Stent Placement

Coronary artery disease remains a significant global health issue and is a leading cause of mortality. Dual antiplatelet therapy, including clopidogrel, is essential for preventing stent thrombosis after coronary artery stenting. This study assessed the comparative efficacy and safety of generic versus brand-name clopidogrel in a large Taiwanese cohort. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the National Health Insurance database, identifying patients who underwent coronary stenting and received either generic or brand-name clopidogrel between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2021. Propensity score matching was employed to balance baseline characteristics. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or cardiovascular death over a two-year follow-up. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding requiring hospitalization. A total of 211,509 patients were included, of which 2686 received generic clopidogrel and 208,823 received brand-name clopidogrel. After matching, 2686 patients from each group were analyzed. The hazard ratio for the primary efficacy outcome was 0.92 (95% confidence interval: 0.78-1.10), indicating no significant difference between the two groups. The subdistribution hazard ratio for the primary safety outcome was 1.06 (95% confidence interval: 0.84-1.33), suggesting no significant difference in bleeding risk. Subgroup analyses showed consistent results across various patient demographics and clinical conditions. In conclusion, among patients undergoing coronary stenting, the risks of ischemic and bleeding events were comparable between those receiving generic and brand-name clopidogrel.

Left Ventricular Systolic Function Changes During Pump-Assisted Beating Heart Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of information about the left ventricle (LV) systolic function changes during pump-assisted beating heart coronary artery bypass graft surgery (PACAB). This study aimed to study the changes in LV systolic function changes during PACAB.

METHODS

In this prospective, single-arm, observational study, 70 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status III or IV of either sex, aged 40-70 years, scheduled to undergo elective PACAB for isolated ischemic heart disease with EF >30% were included. We excluded patients with pregnancy, pericardial effusion, contraindications to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), regional wall-motion abnormality of basal LV segments, pericardial effusion, right ventricular dysfunction, bundle branch blocks, and atrial fibrillation. After standard anesthesia induction, patients underwent PACAB. LV ejection fraction (EF), mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE), and tissue Doppler-derived peak mitral annular systolic velocity (s') were recorded at various time points of surgery. Change in LV EF during surgery was the primary outcome variable of the study. Secondary outcome variables were complications and changes in MAPSE and s'. A repeated measure analysis of variance was used to compare the changes in LV systolic function at various stages of surgery.

RESULTS

Baseline LV EF was 47.73±9.91%. Compared to baseline, changes in EF during and after the surgery were not statistically and clinically significant. Changes in MAPSE and s' during the surgery were not statistically significant. Complications included postoperative acute kidney injury, stroke, excess bleeding, and pneumonia.

CONCLUSION

LV systolic function does not vary significantly during PACAB. However, more extensive randomized trials are required to apply these findings for routine use.

Predictive value of interleukin-6 combined with serum neuron-specific enolase on the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVE

To explore the prognostic value of interleukin-6 (IL-6) combined with serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) in arterial atherosclerotic ischemic stroke.

METHODS

116 patients with arterial atherosclerotic ischemic stroke admitted to the emergency ward of our Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to the score of modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 90 days after discharge, the patients were divided into the poor prognosis group (mRS > 2, n = 32) and the good prognosis group (mRS ≤ 2, n = 84). Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was used to evaluate the level of independence in activities of daily living after treatment.

RESULTS

The NIHSS score (14.91 ± 5.20 vs. 9.43 ± 4.30, P < 0.001), IL-6 (11.30 ± 3.11 vs. 6.75±1.28, P < 0.001) and NSE levels (12.47 ± 4.69 vs. 6.42 ± 1.32, P<0.001) in poor prognosis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group. At 90 days post-discharge, 100 % of the good prognosis group had ADL scores over 60, while in the poor prognosis group, 46.88 % scored 40-60, 40.63 % scored 20-40, 9.38 % scored under 20, and 3.13 % died. The AUC of NSE was 0.906 (95 % CI: 0.847-0.965, P < 0.001), the best cut-off value was 7.445 ng/mL, and the sensitivity and specificity were 75.0 % and 82.1 %, respectively. The AUC for IL-6 combined with NSE increased to 0.965 (95 %CI: 0.934-0.997, P < 0.001), and the sensitivity and specificity increased to 80.2 % and 92.9 %, respectively.

CONCLUSION

IL-6 ≥ 6.805 pg/mL and NSE ≥ 7.445 ng/mL were independently associated with poor prognosis in patients with AIS, and the combined testing of the two indicators had a higher predictive value. These results suggested that the combined assay of IL-6 and NSE could be a novel marker for predicting poor prognosis in AIS.

Associations Between Sleep Duration and Cardiometabolic Diseases Among Residents in Southwest China

Introduction

The burden of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), defined as stroke, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, continues to pose a global challenge. Sleep duration has been linked to cardiovascular health. However, there is a lack of focused investigations on CMDs in underdeveloped areas of China.

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the relationship between sleep duration and CMDs among residents from southwest China.

Patients and Methods

This large cross-sectional study screened data from the National Key Research and Development Program (2018YFC1311400). Based on sleep duration reported through a standardized questionnaire, encompassing the sleep patterns of the past five years, participants were classified into three groups: <6, 6-8, >8 hours. Baseline characteristics were compared, and Poisson regression models were used to assess the relationship between sleep duration and CMDs. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on age and gender.

Results

This study included 28,908 participants with an average age of 65.6 ± 10.0 years, of whom 57.6% were female. The overall prevalence of CMDs was 22.6%. After multivariate adjustments, the prevalence ratios (PR) (95% CI) for CMDs across the three groups (6-8h, <6h and >8h) were: reference, 1.140 (1.068-1.218), 1.060 (0.961-1.169) (P for trend =0.003), respectively. The subgroup analysis revealed that among older females, a longer sleep duration (>8h) was also associated with an increased prevalence risk of CMDs, with PR 1.169 (1.001-1.365) (p=0.049).

Conclusion

A shorter sleep duration (<6 hours) was associated with an increased risk of CMDs in the general population, while a longer sleep duration (>8 hours) also raised the prevalence risk among older females.

[Functional status of patients after myocardial revascularization combined with chronic low back pain at the sanatorium-resort stage of medical rehabilitation]

Chronic ischemic heart disease (CIHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, increasing in proportion to the growth of the older population. Rehabilitative measures in patients who have undergone the myocardial revascularization, with back pain currently have insufficient evidence base. The differentiated program of medical rehabilitation (MR) at the stage of sanatorium-resort treatment is not regulated. A description of the comorbid patients' functional status will create a differentiated system of individual rehabilitation program set up.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an algorithm for assessing the functional status of patients after myocardial revascularization with chronic low back pain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The single-center cross-sectional cohort study (September 2021 - May 2022 yrs) included 50 patients after a myocardial revascularization with chronic low back pain (36 women, 14 men; median age 63.5 [55.5; 67.5] years), who were the study group and 10 patients with CIHD (5 women, 5 men; median age 65.0 [62.0; 68.0] years) who joined the control group. All patients underwent clinical (neurological and therapeutic examination), functional (clinical tests, echocardiography) and laboratory (general and biochemical blood analysis, blood cytokine levels) investigations, the functional class of impairment was defined.

RESULTS

There are 4 groups with combined pain syndrome (cardiogenic and vertebrogenic) in different ratios due to different functional and laboratory status among patients after the myocardial revascularization with chronic back pain. The presence of cardiogenic pain syndrome was associated with an increase in leukocyte and peripheral blood glucose levels, interleukin-6, myocardial mass enlargement, while vertebrogenic pain syndrome correlated with personal anxiety.

CONCLUSION

The evaluation of the functional status of patients according to the degree of severity of cardiogenic and vertebrogenic pain syndrome has revealed a simple method of pathogenetically based differentiation selection for individual rehabilitation program of patient development.

Experimental and numerical investigation of the stenosed coronary artery taken from the clinical setting and modeled in terms of hemodynamics

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of the artery with different pulse values and stenosis rates on the pressure drop, the peristaltic pump outlet pressure, fractional flow reserve (FFR) and most importantly the amount of power consumed by the peristaltic pump. For this purpose, images taken from the clinical environment were produced as models (10 mm inlet diameter) with 0% and 70% percent areal stenosis rates (PSR) on a three-dimensional (3D) printer. In the experimental system, pure water was used as the fluid at 54, 84, 114, 132, and 168 bpm pulse values. In addition, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyzes of the test region were performed using experimental boundary conditions with the help of ANSYS-Fluent software. The findings showed that as PSR increases in the arteries, the pressure drop in the stenosis region increases and this amount increases dramatically with increasing effort. An increase of approximately 40% was observed in the pump outlet pressure value from 54 bpm to 168 bpm in the PSR 0% model and 51% increase in the PSR 70% model. It has been observed that the pump does more work to overcome the increased pressure difference due to increased pulse rate and PSR. With the effect of contraction, the power consumption of the pump increased from 9.2% for 54 bpm to 13.8% for 168 bpm. In both models, the Wall Shear Stress (WSS) increased significantly. WSS increased abruptly in the stenosis and arcuate regions, while sudden decreases were observed in the flow separation region.

Updates in the Management of Coronary Artery Disease: A Review Article

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a significant health challenge, imposing substantial burdens on individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. CAD's impact stems from artery narrowing and blockage, leading to severe complications like heart attacks and heart failure. Collaborative efforts by researchers, professionals, and governments have fostered advancements in comprehending and managing this cardiovascular ailment. Evolving CAD management embraces modern diagnostics, cutting-edge pharmaceuticals, invasive procedures, lifestyle modifications, and cardiac rehabilitation. This comprehensive approach aims to amplify outcomes and elevate the quality of life for CAD-affected individuals. This review delves into innovative treatments, pivotal breakthroughs, and recent trends in clinical practices that collectively shape CAD management. The exploration encompasses novel diagnostic technologies enabling early detection and risk assessment. Moreover, it investigates recent breakthroughs in medications that profoundly impact platelet disorders, lipid reduction, and angina. Precision medicine's role in tailoring treatment strategies based on patient characteristics is thoroughly examined. Advances in invasive procedures, like percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), have revolutionised coronary revascularisation, substantially improved long-term outcomes, and reduced restenosis rates. The increasing significance of lifestyle changes and cardiac rehabilitation in CAD management, augmenting treatment options and patient recovery, are meticulously scrutinized. While these strides are pivotal, research continues to chart new paths in CAD management, from innovative drugs to collaborative multidisciplinary care models. Staying attuned to the latest advancements and embracing a patient-centric approach can collectively reduce CAD's impact and facilitate the lives of those grappling with this chronic cardiovascular disorder.

Worsening preoperative functional status increases morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: A propensity matched study of the ACS-NSQIP database

Introduction

Dependent functional status is correlated with increased mortality in patient undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, patients who are partially dependent and totally dependent may have different peri‑operative outcome profiles. This study aims to retrospectively examine the effect of different levels of functional dependency on post-CABG morbidity and mortality.

Methods

Patients who underwent a CABG from 2005 to 2021 were identified in the ACS-NSQIP database. Subjects were stratified into independent (IFS), partially dependent (PDFS), and totally dependent functional status (TDFS). A 5:1 propensity matching between IFS and each functional dependent group was performed, respectively. The 30-day peri‑operative outcomes of PDFS and TDFS were compared to that of IFS. Peri-operative outcomes between PDFS and TDFS were compared using multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for demographics and co-morbidities.

Results

There were 968 PDFS with 4779 matched IFS and 247 TDFS with 1202 matched IFS. Compared to IFS, PDFS and TDFS had higher mortality, sepsis, bleeding, and length of stay>7 days. TDFS have higher MACE, cardiac/pulmonary/renal complications, and OR return than IFS. Compared to PDFS, TDFS had higher mortality (aOR 1.68, p = 0.03), higher risk of MACE (aOR 1.88, p<0.01), cardiac events (aOR 2.74, p<0.01), perioperative sepsis (aOR 1.73, p = 0.03), pulmonary complications (aOR 2.16, p<0.01), and returning to OR (aOR 1.68, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Our study shows that dependent functional status is associated with increased morbidity and mortality after CABG. Additional post-CABG complication monitoring and care may be required for TDFS.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the association between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and coronary artery disease (CAD) via meta−analysis. Methods: Specific searches of online databases from January 2000 to May 2022 were conducted. All observational studies evaluating the association between EAT and CAD in PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were screened. A meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta−Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). In total, 21 studies encompassing 4975 subjects met the inclusion criteria, including 2377 diagnosed and assigned as the CAD group, while the other 2598 were assigned as the non−CAD group. Subjects in the CAD group were further divided into the severe stenosis group (stenosis ≥ 50%, n = 846) and the mild/moderate stenosis group (stenosis < 50%, n = 577). Results: Both the volume and thickness of EAT in the CAD group were larger compared to the non−CAD group (p < 0.00001). In a subgroup analysis within the CAD group, the severe stenosis group had a larger volume and thickness with respect to EAT when compared to the mild/moderate group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The enlargement of EAT presented in CAD patients with an association with CAD severity. Although limited by different CAD types and measuring methods for EAT, as well as a smaller sample size, our results suggest that EAT is a novel predictor and a potential therapeutic target for CAD.