Survey of coronary catheterization laboratory activity in Iran during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic

BACKGROUND

With the onset of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, hospitalization and treatment of non-covid patients decreased worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate the admission and treatment of patients with coronary artery diseases (CADs) by examining coronary Cath labs activities in some centers of Iran during the COVID-19 period.

METHODS

A retrospective, multi-center survey was conducted in four cites in Iran which participated in National Persian Registry Of CardioVascular diseasE (N-PROVE). Two periods of COVID-19 occurrence peak in Iran were compared with the same date in 2019. Information was collected on the number of diagnostic and therapeutic coronary catheterizations in both stable ischemic heart diseases (SIHDs) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) settings.

RESULTS

In the first peak of COVID-19 pandemic, coronary angiographies and angioplasties decreased by 37 and 38% compared to the same period in 2019, respectively. The most common indication for coronary angiography during this period was ACS [especially ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)]; however, at the time of peak decrease, the SIHDs were the most. In the second peak of COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, 34% and 27% decrease in diagnostic and therapeutic coronary procedures were seen, respectively. During this period, the number of elective admissions increased, although it was still lower than that in 2019. The tendency to rescue percutaneous coronary intervention increased in most centers during the COVID-19 era, especially in the second peak.

CONCLUSION

A significant reduction in the coronary Cath lab activity has been observed during the COVID-19 pandemic that can indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.

Association between ambient fine particulate matter with blood pressure levels among Iranian individuals admitted for cardiac and respiratory diseases: Data from CAPACITY study

BACKGROUND

The relation between air pollution and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk factors, especially blood pressure (BP) levels, has been less frequently assessed. The aim of this study was evaluating the association between air pollutants of less than 2.5 µm [particulate matter (PM2.5)] and BP indices among individuals admitted with CVDs and pulmonary diseases.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was in context of air pollution associated with hospitalization and mortality of CVDs and respiratory diseases (CAPACITY) study. Data of 792 Iranian patients referring to two hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, for cardiovascular or respiratory problems from March 2011 to March 2012 were used for analysis. BP indices including systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were obtained from patients’ medical forms and mean PM2.5 concentrations during 24 hours prior to admission of each patient were obtained from Isfahan Department of Environment (DOE).

RESULTS

Mean ± standard deviation (SD) of participants’ age were 62.5 ± 15.9 years. All BP indices on admission were significantly higher in women compared with men. Adjustment of all potential confounders including age, sex, temperature, wind speed, and dew point revealed that increasing one quartile in PM2.5 concentrations had been associated with 1.98 mmHg raising in SBP at the time of admission [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.41-3.54, P = 0.010]. Women with cardiac diseases had higher all BP indices with increased PM2.5 concentration [SBP: β: 4.30, 95% CI = 0.90-7.70, P = 0.010; DBP: β: 1.89, 95% CI = 0.09-3.69, P = 0.040; MAP: β: 3.09, 95% CI = 0.68-5.51, P= 0.010, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that increasing PM2.5 concentration has been positively associated with raising SBP in total population and all BP indices among women with cardiac problems at admission time. Several comprehensive studies are required for confirming these relations.

Comparison of survival rate and complications of percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft, and medical treatment in patients with left main and/or three vessel diseases

BACKGROUND

The probable complications of 3 different cardiovascular diseases treatment options including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and medical therapy (MT), especially in individuals suffering from left main (LM) and/or three vessel diseases (3VDs), have received less attention. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the complications of the aforementioned therapeutic strategies in patients admitted with LM coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or having 3VDs.

METHODS

From March 2018 to March 2019, a total number of 251 eligible individuals (87, 86, and 78 subjects treated with PCI, CABG, and MT, respectively) were recruited in this cohort study. After the initiation of treatment, all individuals were followed for 6 months. Occurrence of any complications including chest pain (CP), re-hospitalization due to cardiac problems, heart failure (HF), death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke as well as major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were assessed.

RESULTS

Significantly lower percentages of CP, readmission, and HF were observed in the CABG group compared to the PCI and MT groups (24.4% vs. 47.1% and 53.9%, P < 0.001; 3.5% vs. 13.8% and 5.1%, P = 0.020; 1.2% vs. 2.3% and 9%; P = 0.040, respectively). Further analysis revealed an increased likelihood of hospitalization in the PCI group (OR: 3.82, 95% CI: 1.01-14.41, P = 0.040), and a lower risk of CP and HF occurrence in the CABG group subjects compared to the MT group (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13-0.62, P = 0.002 and OR: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.004-0.71, P = 0.030, respectively). This pattern was also observed in the PCI group in terms of HF (OR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02-0.83, P = 0.030).

CONCLUSION

Patients suffering from LM and/or 3VDs would most likely benefit from CABG followed by PCI, rather than MT. Further large-scale studies are required to confirm these results.

What is the preferred hemostasis method for coronary angiography through the palmar artery access?

Trans-palmar catheterization has been considered to be safe and feasible and choosing a reliable hemostasis method is essential to confirm it. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and safety of three hemostasis approaches containing ulnar TR band, manual compression and wrist hyperextension in patients undergoing trans-palmar coronary angiography (CAG). In a non-randomized clinical trial, a total of 106 patients undergoing diagnostic CAG by tarns-palmar access were divided into three groups: ulnar TR band, manual compression and wrist hyperextension. Duration of primary hemostasis, patient satisfaction, puncture site pain severity, hospitalization time and local neuro-vascular complication were evaluated and compared in hospital and 30 days follow-up. The mean age of the patients was 62.9 ± 7.4 years and 72 patients (67.9%) were male. Primary hemostasis time was significantly shorter in hyperextension (11.5 ± 2.10 min) and manual compression groups (12.3 ± 2.20 min) than with TR band group (24.7 ± 10.25 min) (p value < 0.0001). Patient's satisfaction was higher in hyperextension approach (9.4 ± 0.65) than manual compression (8.8 ± 0.79) and TR band group (8.2 ± 0.90) (p value < 0.0001). The most pain was seen in the TR band and the less in hyperextension group until 4 h after the procedure (p value < 0.0001). Hematoma, numbness and ulnar artery occlusion as well as hospitalization time did not have significant statistical differences (p value > 0.05). In conclusion, between three methods of hemostasis in trans-palmar catheterization, hyperextension approach is the preferred method because of effectiveness, safety and less time consuming hemostatic method compared others.

The transulnar approach in the patients with ipsilateral radial artery occlusion

BACKGROUND

Transulnar approach (TUA) has been classified as an appropriate surrogate for the transradial approach (TRA), but the safety of TUA in the presence of ipsilateral radial artery occlusion (RAO) is not well studied. In this article, we aimed to assess the feasibility and occurrence of complications of this approach in Iranian individuals with ipsilateral RAO.

METHODS

In this prospective double-center study, a total number of 70 participants from July 2017 to November 2018 with coexisting ipsilateral RAO due to prior RA angiography, severe arterial spasm, prominent vascular anomalies, or arterial harvesting for hemodialysis or graft procedures were enrolled and underwent TUA. Incidence of probable complications including pain, hematoma, arteriovenous fistula (AVF), pseudoaneurysm formation, any adverse events requiring immediate vascular surgery, life-threatening hand ischemia, infection, ulnar nerve palsy, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke plus ulnar artery (UA) obstruction and narrowing was evaluated both before discharge time and one month afterward.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study population was 68.2 ± 12.8 years [men number: 41 (58.5%)]. Our success rate was 98.6% and 37.1% of subjects underwent further coronary intervention. No aforementioned adverse outcomes were reported in any individual except for pain (11.4%) and minor hematoma (grade I) (5.7%) as well as MACE (1.4%). Follow-up assessment revealed asymptomatic UA occlusion (UAO) and severe narrowing in 2.8% and 1.4% of participants, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our outcomes suggested that due to high safety and low complication rates, TUA could be tried safely in patients with concurrent ipsilateral RAO. Other appropriate cohort studies are required for assessing the incidence of TUA complications.

The vasorelaxant effect of simvastatin in isolated aorta from diabetic rats

BACKGROUND

The increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is of great clinical significance. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether exposure of endothelium-intact aortic rings to simvastatin could have a vasorelaxant effect in diabetic rats.

METHODS

For induction of diabetes, streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg, i.p., single dose) was used. After 1 month, the cumulative reaction of isolated endothelium-intact aortic rings was determined to KCl and phenylephrine (PE) in the absence and presence of nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, i.e., nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME), and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, i.e., indomethacin. Meanwhile, the role of extracellular calcium was assessed in this respect.

RESULTS

At the end of the study, the addition of simvastatin (at a concentration ≥ 10-5 M) caused a significant concentration-dependent relaxation response of PE-precontracted aortic rings for both control and diabetic groups (at a significant difference of P < 0.050), and this difference did not exist for KCl-precontracted aortic rings. Furthermore, both L-NAME (100 µM) and indomethacin (10 µM) significantly diminished the vasorelaxant response following simvastatin addition. Meanwhile, there was no statistically significant difference between control and diabetic groups in the absence of extracellular calcium.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that simvastatin is able to relax PE-precontracted aortic rings isolated from STZ-diabetic rats via modulation of NO- and prostaglandin-dependent signaling and its effect is not via modulation of calcium mobilization from intracellular stores.

Percutaneous trans-ulnar artery approach for coronary angiography and angioplasty; A case series study

BACKGROUND

Coronary angiography is the gold standard method for diagnosis of coronary heart disease and usually performed by femoral approach that has several complications. To reduce these complications, upper extremity approach is increasingly used and is becoming preferred access site by many interventionists. Although radial approach is relatively well studied, safety, feasibility and risk of applying ulnar approach in not clearly known yet.

METHODS

We followed 97 patients (man = 56%, mean ± standard deviation of age = 57 ± 18) who had undergone coronary angiography or angioplasty via ulnar approach for 6-10 months and recorded their outcomes.

RESULTS

In 97 patients out of 105 ones (92.38%), procedure through ulnar access were successfully done. Unsuccessful puncture (3 patients), wiring (2 patients), passing of sheet (2 patients), and anatomically unsuitable ulnar artery (1 patient) were the reasons of failure. In 94 patients (89.52%), the angiography and angioplasty was done without any complications. Five patients (5.1%) hematoma and 11 patients (11%) experienced low-grade pain that resolved with painkiller. No infection, amputation or need for surgery was reported.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that ulnar access in our patients was a safe and practical approach for coronary angiography or angioplasty, without any major complication. Bearing in mind its high success rate, it can be utilized when a radial artery is not useful for the catheterization and in cases such as prior harvesting of the radial artery (in prior coronary artery bypass grafting).

Chronic administration of daidzein, a soybean isoflavone, improves endothelial dysfunction and attenuates oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The effect of chronic daidzein, a soybean isoflavone, on aortic reactivity of streptozotocin-diabetic rats was studied. Male diabetic rats received daidzein for 7 weeks a week after diabetes induction. Contractile responses to KCl and phenylephrine (PE) and relaxation response to acetylcholine (ACh) were obtained from aortic rings. Maximum contractile response of endothelium-intact rings to PE was significantly lower in daidzein-treated diabetic rats relative to untreated diabetic rats, and endothelium removal abolished this difference. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh was significantly higher in daidzein-treated diabetic rats as compared with diabetic rats and pretreatment of rings with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and/or indomethacin attenuated it. Two-month diabetes also resulted in an elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and daidzein treatment significantly reversed the increased MDA content and reduced activity of SOD. Therefore, chronic treatment of diabetic rats with daidzein could prevent some abnormal changes in vascular reactivity in diabetic rats through nitric oxide and prostaglandin-related pathways, and via attenuation of oxidative stress in aortic tissue and endothelium integrity seems essential for this effect.

Mechanisms underlying quercetin-induced vasorelaxation in aorta of subchronic diabetic rats: an in vitro study

In this study, the mechanisms involved in vasorelaxant effect of the flavonoid quercetin was investigated in isolated aortic rings from streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. After 4 weeks, addition of quercetin (0.1 microM-1 mM) caused a significant dose-dependent relaxation of noradrenaline (NA)- and KCl-preconstricted rings in both control and diabetic groups with a significant inter-group difference of P<0.01. Furthermore, both nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 microM) and indomethacin (10 microM) markedly attenuated the vasorelaxant responses following quercetin application. Meanwhile, endothelium removal significantly attenuated the quercetin-induced vasorelaxation. It is concluded that the quercetin can relax the preconstricted rings of aorta in subchronic STZ-diabetic rats through nitric oxide- and -prostaglandin-mediated pathways, which themselves could be considered as endothelium-dependent.

Antinociceptive effect of Teucrium polium leaf extract in the diabetic rat formalin test

This study was designed to evaluate the analgesic effect of Teucrium polium leaf extract in the diabetic rat formalin test. For this purpose, streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats received intraperitoneal injection of this extract (100 and 200 mg/kg per day) for a period of 2 weeks. It was found out that Teucrium polium-treated diabetic rats exhibited a lower nociceptive score as compared to untreated diabetics. The results may suggest therapeutic potential of Teucrium polium extract for the treatment of diabetic hyperalgesia.