Activation of the Nitric Oxide Pathway and Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Acute Kidney Injury

An important diagnostic marker of acute myocardial infarction patients: Plasma miRNA133 levels

The objective of this study was to explore changes in miRNA133 levels as a basis for clinical diagnostic markers in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A total of 100 chest pain patient cases admitted to a hospital from June 2021 to December 2022 were used. The study involved the selection of 50 patients: 25 patients with unstable undetermined heart pain and 25 healthy subjects were included in the control group of 50 patients with non-AMI patients. Meanwhile, 50 patients with AMI were designated as the experimental group. Changes in miRNA133 levels in patients' plasma were analyzed for expression using quantitative fluorescence analysis. When the serum TPI, plasma NT-ProBNP, glycosylated hemoglobin, and plasma D-dimer index values were compared between the control and experimental groups, there was a statistically significant difference (P < .05). mi-RNA-133 had a mean plasma level value of 2.60 ± 1.01, the mean level value of mi-RNA-133 in patients with non-AMI was 1.34 ± 1.18, and the patients in the AMI group showed significantly high values of the mean plasma level of mi-RNA-133. The relative expression level value of cTnl in patients with AMI was 10.84 ± 12.64. Of the specificity and sensitivity diagnostics, mi-RNA-133 had the best diagnostic effect. The area under mi-RNA-133 in the regression curve was 95.4%, the specificity of the whole combination of indicators was 89.4% and the sensitivity was 100%. Finally, the correlation between mi-RNA-133 and white blood cell count (WBC) and TG was statistically significant (P < .05). In conclusion, changes in the level of mi-RNA-133 may be an important marker for diagnosing the status of patients with AMI, while a faster and more accurate method will emerge along with the improvement of the detection technology, and at the same time, due to the variability of the study cases and other limitations, further research will be carried out subsequently.

Impact of care bundles on the occurrence and outcomes of acute kidney injury among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Several reports suggested that compliance with acute kidney injury care bundles among hospitalized patients resulted in improved kidney and patient outcomes. We investigated the effect of acute kidney injury care bundle utilization on the incidence of acute kidney injury and renal outcomes in a large cohort of myocardial infarction patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

METHODS

We included patients with myocardial infarction admitted following percutaneous coronary intervention between January 2008 and December 2020. From January 2016, acute kidney injury care bundle was implemented in our cardiac intensive care unit. Acute kidney injury care bundle consisted of simple standardized investigations and interventions, including strict monitoring of serum creatinine and urine analysis, planning investigations, treatment, and guidance about seeking nephrologist advice. Patients' records were evaluated for the occurrence of acute kidney injury, its severity, and recovery, before and after the implementation of acute kidney injury care bundle.

RESULTS

We included 2646 patients (1941 patients in the years 2008-2015 and 705 patients in the years 2016-2020). Implementation of care bundles resulted in a significant decrease in the occurrence of acute kidney injury from 190/1945 to 42/705 (10-6%; p < 0.001), with a trend for lower acute kidney injury score > 1 (20% vs. 25%; p = 0.07) and higher acute kidney injury recovery (62% vs. 45%, p = 0.001). Using a multivariable regression model, the use of care bundles resulted in a 45% decrease in the relative risk for acute kidney injury (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37-0.82, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, treated with percutaneous coronary intervention and admitted to our cardiac intensive care unit over the period January 2008-December 2020, compliance with acute kidney injury care bundle was independently associated with a significant decrease in occurrence of acute kidney injury and with better renal outcomes following acute kidney injury. Further interventions, such as e-alert systems for acute kidney injury, could improve utilization of the acute kidney injury care bundle and optimize its clinical benefits.

Neopterin, the Cell-Mediated Immune Response Biomarker, in Inflammatory Periodontal Diseases: A Narrative Review of a More than Fifty Years Old Biomarker

Neopterin is a biomarker of the activation of cellular immunity. The purpose of this review is to summarise neopterin metabolism, methods of its detection, and its role in inflammation, focusing on periodontal inflammatory diseases. This derivative of guanosine is a non-enzymatic product of 7,8-dihydroneopterin oxidation caused by free radicals which protect activated macrophages from oxidative stress. Various methods, usually based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent essay, high-performance liquid chromatography, or radioimmunoassay were developed for the isolation of neopterin. A wide spectrum of diseases and conditions are known to affect neopterin levels, including cardiovascular, bacterial, viral, and degenerative diseases, as well as malignant tumours. Neopterin levels were found to increase in subjects with periodontitis, especially when the oral fluid and gingival crevicular fluid were evaluated. These findings confirm the role of activated macrophages and cellular immunity in periodontal inflammatory diseases. The gingival crevicular fluid and the oral fluid appear to be the most valuable biologic fluids for the evaluation of neopterin levels in periodontitis. For gingival crevicular fluid, neopterin can be determined as the concentration or the so-called total amount. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment was associated with a decrease in neopterin levels, but an increase was also reported, suggesting the possible role of macrophages in the resolution of the periodontal lesion.

Emerging Biomarkers for Predicting Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Heart Disease

Cardiovascular disease is most frequently caused by the development and progression of atherosclerosis. When coronary arteries are afflicted, and the stenoses caused by atherosclerotic plaques are severe enough, the metabolic supply-and-offer balance is disturbed, leading to myocardial ischemia. If atherosclerotic plaques become unstable and local thrombosis develops, a myocardial infarction occurs. Sometimes, myocardial ischemia and infarction may result in significant and irreversible heart failure. To prevent severe complications, such as acute coronary syndromes and ischemia-related heart failure, extensive efforts have been made for developing biomarkers that would help identify patients at increased risk for cardiovascular events. In this two-part study, we attempted to provide a review of existing knowledge of blood biomarkers that may be used in this setting. The first part of this work was dedicated to conventional biomarkers, which are already used in clinical practice. In the second part, here presented, we discuss emerging biomarkers which have not yet become mainstream.

Acute Kidney Injury Recovery Patterns in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Identification of different AKI recovery patterns may improve patient prognostic stratification. We investigated the clinical relevance of AKI recovery patterns among STEMI patients undergoing PCI. Methods: A retrospective study of 2943 STEMI patients undergoing PCI. The incidence of renal impairment, in-hospital complications, short and long-term mortality, were compared between patients without AKI, with early recovery defined as a return to baseline creatinine within 72 h, and no AKI recovery/delayed recovery defined as all other AKI cases. Results: A total of 255 (8.7%) patients developed AKI, of whom 124/255 (49%) patients had an early recovery, whereas 131/255 (51%) had no AKI recovery/delayed recovery. Patients without recovery were more likely to have in-hospital complications and higher long-term mortality (36.64% vs. 7.25%%; p < 0.001). In a multivariable regression model, the mortality hazard ratio (HR) for long term mortality remained significant for patients with no/delayed recovery AKI (HR 7.76, 95% CI 4.69 to 12.86, p < 0.001), and a strong trend among patients with resolving AKI (HR 2.09, 95% CI 0.933−4.687, p = 0.071). Conclusions: Among STEMI patients undergoing PCI, the recovery pattern of AKI is a valuable prognostic marker.

Kinetics of Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Septic Shock: A Pilot Study

Septic shock is a major cause of mortality in ICU patients, its pathophysiology is complex and not properly understood. Oxidative stress seems to be one of the most important mechanisms of shock progression to multiple organ failure. In the present pilot study, we have analysed eight oxidative-stress-related biomarkers in seven consecutive time points (i.e., the first seven days) in 21 septic shock patients admitted to the ICU. Our objective was to describe the kinetics of four biomarkers related to pro-oxidative processes (nitrite/nitrate, malondialdehyde, 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine, soluble endoglin) compared to four biomarkers of antioxidant processes (the ferric reducing ability of plasma, superoxide dismutase, asymmetric dimethylarginine, mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin) and four inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, IL-10 and neopterin). Furthermore, we analysed each biomarker’s ability to predict mortality at the time of admission and 12 h after admission. Although a small number of study subjects were recruited, we have identified four promising molecules for further investigation: soluble endoglin, superoxide dismutase, asymmetric dimethylarginine and neopterin.

Acute Kidney Injury in Cardiogenic Shock: An Updated Narrative Review

Acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) is associated with high mortality and morbidity despite advancements in cardiovascular care. AMI-CS is associated with multiorgan failure of non-cardiac organ systems. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently seen in patients with AMI-CS and is associated with worse mortality and outcomes compared to those without. The pathogenesis of AMI-CS associated with AKI may involve more factors than previously understood. Early use of renal replacement therapies, management of comorbid conditions and judicious fluid administration may help improve outcomes. In this review, we seek to address the etiology, pathophysiology, management, and outcomes of AKI complicating AMI-CS.

The Relationship Between AKI in Patients With STEMI and Short-Term Mortality: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with poor long-term outcome. However, the short-term prognosis of AKI in patients with ST-elevation AMI (STEMI) needs to be explored further. We assessed this relationship between these patients and short-term mortality in relation to AKI and chronic kidney disease (CKD). All data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves, logistic regression models, and propensity score matching analysis were used to evaluate the associations between AKI in patients with STEMI and outcomes. A total of 1031 patients with STEMI met the inclusion criteria. For 28-day mortality, in the multivariable logistic regression models, the odds ratio (95% CI) of group 2 (AKI but no CKD) and group 3 (AKI in the presence of CKD) were 3.24 (1.46-7.18) and 4.57 (1.83-11.37), respectively, compared with group 1 (no AKI and no CKD). Comorbid AKI increased the risk of short-term mortality among patients with STEMI, especially for those with AKI in the presence of CKD.

Brain Natriuretic Peptide for Predicting Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Coronary Angiography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

To assess the diagnostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing coronary angiography.

Background

ACS remains a major cause of death worldwide. Patients with ACS undergoing coronary angiography are more likely to develop CI-AKI, which correlates highly with poor clinical outcomes. Early diagnosis of CI-AKI remains a challenge. Many recent studies have suggested that BNP or NT-proBNP may be a useful biomarker for the early diagnosis of CI-AKI.

Methods

We searched databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library) to identify eligible studies. Two authors independently screened the studies and extracted data. We used the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) criteria to assess the methodological quality of the included studies and STATA to perform all statistical analyses.

Results

Nine studies including 2832 patients were identified. The pooled sensitivity of 0.73 (95% CI 0.65–0.79), specificity of 0.79 (95% CI 0.70–0.85), and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.81 (95% CI 0.77–0.84) suggested that BNP or NT-proBNP had a good diagnostic value for CI-AKI in patients with ACS undergoing coronary angiography.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that BNP or NT-proBNP may be an effective predictive marker for CI-AKI. However, additional high-quality studies are required to find the optimal cutoff value and the diagnostic value of BNP or NT-proBNP in combination with other biomarkers.

New insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiorenal syndrome

Communication between the heart and kidney occurs through various bidirectional pathways. The heart maintains continuous blood flow through the kidney while the kidney regulates blood volume thereby allowing the heart to pump effectively. Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is a pathologic condition in which acute or chronic dysfunction of the heart or kidney induces acute or chronic dysfunction of the other organ. CRS type 3 (CRS-3) is defined as acute kidney injury (AKI)-mediated cardiac dysfunction. AKI is common among critically ill patients and correlates with increased mortality and morbidity. Acute cardiac dysfunction has been observed in over 50% of patients with severe AKI and results in poorer clinical outcomes than heart or renal dysfunction alone. In this review, we describe the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for AKI-induced cardiac dysfunction. Additionally, we discuss current approaches in the management of patients with CRS-3 and the development of targeted therapeutics. Finally, we summarize current challenges in diagnosing mild cardiac dysfunction following AKI and in understanding CRS-3 etiology.