Increased remote extracellular volume measured by CMR T1 mapping allows early identification of left atrial dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background

Myocardial fibrosis is a hallmark of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) detects replacement fibrosis (RF) through late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and interstitial fibrosis (IF) in apparently unscarred myocardium by T1 mapping-derived increased extracellular volume (ECV). Differently from LGE, to date only few small studies have explored the clinical significance of IF in HCM and a correlation between IF and diastolic dysfunction (DD) has been proposed. However, DD detection is challenging in this population since the accuracy of standard echocardiographic parameters is controversial, especially in presence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). Left atrial (LA) dysfunction is associated with high left ventricular (LV) filling pressures and may represent an early marker of DD in HCM.

Purpose

To explore the correlation between IF and LA dysfunction in HCM patients with preserved systolic function.

Methods

93 consecutive HCM patients with preserved EF underwent a standard CMR scan. Semi-automatic threshold-based quantification of ventricular volumes, function and mass was performed. LA volumes (LAV) and function were evaluated by CMR feature-tracking (FT) analysis. The three atrial phasic functions were analyzed: (i) passive strain (εe), (ii) active strain (εa) and (iii) total strain (εs). LGE was quantified using the standard deviations (SDs) method (≥4 SDs). IF was assessed by T1 mapping-derived ECV quantification in remote myocardium (r-ECV). A matched group of 15 healthy subjects (HS) served as controls.

Results

Compared to HS, HCM patients showed increased LAV (LAV max: HS 39±9ml, HCM 59±20 ml; LAV min: HS 16±4 ml, HCM 34±17 ml; p<0.001), reduced LA EF (HS 61±3%, HCM 45±12%, p<0.001), impaired εs (HS 40±7%, HCM 29±11%, p<0.001) and εe (HS 26±7%, HCM 15±7%, p<0.001). No differences in εa were observed (HS 13±4%, HCM 14±7%, p 0.56). HCM patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of IF, defined as r-ECV values ≥29%. The two ECV groups did not differ in terms of LV EF, LA EF, LAV, LA area, E/E', LGE, LV mass, maximal wall thickness and LVOTO (all p>0.05). HCM patients with increased r-ECV showed significantly impaired LA function in terms of all three strain parameters vs. normal r-ECV group (HCM r-ECV <29%: εs 31±12%, εe15±7%, εa 15±5%; HCM r-ECV≥29%: εs 24±7%, εe 12±4%, εa 12±5%; all p<0.05).

Conclusions

In HCM patients increased r-ECV correlates with LA dysfunction, hinting towards a possible role for IF in determining altered LV relaxation and DD.

LA strain in controls and HCM ECV groups

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Early predictors of perinatal brain damage: the role of neurobiomarkers

The early detection of perinatal brain damage in preterm and term newborns (i.e. intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia and perinatal asphyxia) still constitute an unsolved issue. To date, despite technological improvement in standard perinatal monitoring procedures, decreasing the incidence of perinatal mortality, the perinatal morbidity pattern has a flat trend. Against this background, the measurement of brain constituents could be particularly useful in the early detection of cases at risk for short-/long-term brain injury. On this scenario, the main European and US international health-care institutions promoted perinatal clinical and experimental neuroprotection research projects aimed at validating and including a panel of biomarkers in the clinical guidelines. Although this is a promising attempt, there are several limitations that do not allow biomarkers to be included in standard monitoring procedures. The main limitations are: (i) the heterogeneity of neurological complications in the perinatal period, (ii) the small cohort sizes, (iii) the lack of multicenter investigations, (iv) the different techniques for neurobiomarkers assessment, (iv) the lack of consensus for the validation of assays in biological fluids such as urine and saliva, and (v), the lack of reference curves according to measurement technique and biological fluid. In the present review we offer an up-to-date overview of the most promising developments in the use of biomarkers in the perinatal period such as calcium binding proteins (S100B protein), vasoactive agents (adrenomedullin), brain biomarkers (activin A, neuron specific enolase, glial fibrillary acidic protein, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-L1) and oxidative stress markers.

Monitoring the effectiveness of hypothermia in perinatal asphyxia infants by urinary S100B levels

Background Perinatal asphyxia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in neonates: The aim of the present study was to investigate, by means of longitudinal assessment of urinary S100B, the effectiveness of hypothermia, in infants complicated by perinatal asphyxia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Methods We performed a retrospective case-control study in 108 asphyxiated infants, admitted to nine tertiary departments for neonatal intensive care from January 2004 to July 2017, of whom 54 underwent hypothermia treatment and 54 did not. The concentrations of S100B protein in urine were measured using an immunoluminometric assay at first urination and 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 48, 72, 96, 108 and 120 h after birth. The results were correlated with the achievement of S100B levels within normal ranges at 72 h from hypothermia treatment. Routine laboratory parameters, longitudinal cerebral function monitoring, cerebral ultrasound and neurologic patterns were assessed according to standard protocols. Results Higher S100B concentrations were found in hypothermia-treated infants in both moderate (up to 12 h) and severe (up to 24 h) hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. S100B levels returned to normal ranges starting from 20 h of hypothermia treatment in moderate and from 36 h in severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Conclusions The present results offer additional support to the usefulness of longitudinal neuro-biomarkers monitoring in asphyxiated infants treated by hypothermia. The pattern of S100B concentrations during hypothermia supports the need for further investigations aimed at reconsidering the time-window for patient recruitment and treatment, and the optimal duration of the cooling and rewarming phases of the hypothermia procedure.

Antenatal maternal antidepressants drugs treatment affects S100B levels in maternal-fetal biological fluids in a dose dependent manner

BACKGROUND

The increased use of antidepressant treatment during pregnancy occurred without firm evidence on safety/efficacy. The present study investigated the correlation among S100B and paroxetine blood levels with the occurrence of short-term post-natal neurological abnormalities.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in 50 pregnant women using paroxetine because of depression and in 150 controls. Standard laboratory parameters and S100B were measured at seven monitoring time-points (maternal blood: T1, 16-20 wks; T2, 27-30 wks; T3, 35-40 wks; T4, at delivery; amniotic fluid, T5; venous and arterial cord blood, T6-T7). Paroxetine levels were measured at T1-T6. Neurological outcome was set at 7th day from birth.

RESULTS

Higher S100B concentrations at T1-T7 were found in the paroxetine-treated group. S100B correlated with paroxetine blood levels. The paroxetine/S100B ratio cut-off of 1.31 at T2 achieved sensitivity 100%, specificity 96.5% and positive/negative predictive values 87.5-100, respectively, as a single marker to predict adverse neonatal neurological outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study offers additional support to the usefulness of longitudinal S100B and drug level monitoring in depressed pregnant women and in the early detection of cases at risk for short-term neurological abnormalities. Results open the way at further investigations correlating antidepressant drugs and neurobiomarkers in the maternal bloodstream.

Glutathione Blood Concentrations: A Biomarker of Oxidative Damage Protection during Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Children

Background. Pediatric open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) still remains a risky interventional procedure at high mortality/morbidity. To date, there are no clinical, laboratory, and/or monitoring parameters providing useful information on perioperative stress. We therefore investigated whether blood concentrations of glutathione (GSH), a powerful endogenous antioxidant, changed in the perioperative period. Methods. We conducted an observational study in 35 congenital heart disease (CHD) children in whom perioperative standard laboratory and monitoring parameters and GSH blood levels were assessed at five monitoring time points. Results. GSH showed a pattern characterized by a progressive increase from pre-surgery up to 24 h after surgery, reaching its highest peak at the end of CPB. GSH measured at the end of CPB correlated with CPB duration, cross-clamping, arterial oxygen partial pressure, and with body core temperature. Conclusions. The increase in GSH levels in the perioperative period suggests a compensatory mechanism to oxidative damage during surgical procedure. Caution is needed in controlling different CPB phases, especially systemic reoxygenation in a population that is per se more prone to oxidative stress/damage. The findings may point the way to detecting the optimal temperature and oxygenation target by biomarker monitoring.

Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment Improves Cerebro-splanchnic Oximetry in Late Preterm Infants

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness/side-effects of osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT) performed on the 7th post-natal day, on cerebro-splanchnic oximetry, tissue activation and hemodynamic redistribution in late preterm (LP) infants by using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Methods: Observational pretest-test study consisting in a cohort of 18 LPs who received OMT on the 7th post-natal day. NIRS monitoring was performed at three different time-points: 30 min before (T0), (30 min during (T1) and 30 min after OMT (T2). We evaluated the effects of OMT on the following NIRS parameters: cerebral (c), splanchnic (s) regional oximetry (rSO2), cerebro-splanchnic fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE) and hemodynamic redistribution (CSOR). Results: crSO2 and cFTOE significantly (P < 0.001) improved at T0-T2; srSO2 significantly (P < 0.001) decreased and sFTOE increased at T0-T1. Furthermore, srSO2 and sFTOE significantly improved at T1-T2. Finally, CSOR significantly (P < 0.05) increased at T0-T2. Conclusions: The present data show that OMT enhances cerebro-splanchnic oximetry, tissue activation and hemodynamic redistribution in the absence of any adverse clinical or laboratory pattern. The results indicate the usefulness of further randomized studies in wider populations comparing the effectiveness of OMT with standard rehabilitation programs.

NIRS cerebral patterns in healthy late preterm and term infants are gender- and gestational age-dependent

AIM

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been proposed to provide reliable information concerning brain oximetry and tissue activation level in the perinatal period. We aimed to investigate whether NIRS brain patterns in healthy preterm (PT) and term (T) infants were gender- and gestational age (GA)-dependent.

METHODS

We conducted an observational study in 74 newborns, from consecutive singleton pregnancies, of whom 37 were born at term (male: n = 19 female: n = 18) and 37 (male: n = 18 female: n = 19) were PT. Cerebral oximetry (crSO₂ ) and fractional tissue oxygen extraction (cFTOE), were recorded on the 5th day from birth.

RESULTS

crSO₂ was significantly higher and cFTOE lower (p < 0.001, for both) in the PT female than male group. At term, crSO₂ was significantly higher and cFTOE lower (p < 0.001, for both) in males. crSO₂ (male: R = 0.84, p < 0.001; female: R = 0.74, p < 0.001) and cFTOE (male: R = 0.72, p < 0.001; female: R = 0.72, p < 0.001) in male and female groups correlated positively with GA at recording.

CONCLUSION

Different brain oximetry between males and females in PT a T infants, may suggest that in the perinatal period brain development is gender- and time-dependent. Data support the use of NIRS as a feasible tool for non-invasive cerebral monitoring.

Characteristics and outcomes of fetuses with laterality defects are the current outcomes better? A single center study

Objective: To analyze the more recent outcomes of fetuses with different laterality defects.Material and methods: Out of 1508 fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD) diagnosed by echocardiography between January 1995 and December 2015, 94 (6.3%) presented abnormal visceroatrial situs: 42 till December 2002 (group 1, analyzed retrospectively) and 52 since then until December 2015 (group 2, analyzed prospectively). Twenty-one had left isomerism (Lisom), 22 right isomerism (Risom), 16 situs inversus- dextrocardia (SVI-dx), 5 situs inversus- levocardia (SVI-levo), and 30 situs solitus-dextrocardia (SSol-dx).Results: Seventy-six cases (81%) had CHD, more frequently complex atrioventricular defect. Eighteen cases showed normal heart: half of subgroups SVI-dx and SVI-levo, a third of SSol-dx. Postoperative mortality in continuing pregnancy in group 2 was 43.7 versus 40% in group 1, lower in SVs-dx (0 versus 50%) and Lisom (33.3 versus 66.7%), worse in Risom (71.4 versus 25%). Total mortality in group 2 was 48.3 versus 55% in group 1, better in Ssol-dx (37.5 versus 50%) and in Lisom (27.4 versus 71.4%). In isolated forms all but one case are alive.Conclusions: Our fetal cases presented a relevant mortality in both periods. The outcomes were slightly better in a more recent era in SSol and Lisom.What is known about this topic?Out of laterality defects, the heterotaxies (i.e. left and right isomerism) are known to be associated to a relevant mortality in fetal and neonatal cases.Heterotaxies have a variable position of the heart, but some authors evaluated only those with dextrocardia in their studies on different laterality defects.Controversial data are presented in the literature for the outcomes of fetuses with laterality defects. Many large studies analyzed the data of a very long time period in which it is opinable to compare the results of the treatment, because of a recent improved management and surgical techniques.What does this study add?Our study presents an experience of a single center with cases of different types of laterality defects observed during a routine fetal echocardiography, not only heterotaxies.The knowledge of different laterality defects and of their characteristics (association with cardiac and extracardiac anomalies or with normal heart) is useful for the prenatal counseling.We compare the postoperative and total mortality in more recent period (since 2003) with respect to the previous era (1995-2002).

S100B increases in cyanotic versus noncyanotic infants undergoing heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)

AIMS

S100B has been proposed as a consolidated marker of brain damage in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The present study aimed to investigate whether S100B blood levels in the perioperative period differed in infants complicated or not by cyanotic CHD (CHDc) and correlated with oxygenation status (PaO₂).

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study of 48 CHD infants without pre-existing neurological disorders undergoing surgical repair and CPB. 24 infants were CHDc and 24 were CHD controls. Blood samples for S100B assessment were collected at six monitoring time-points: before the surgical procedure (T0), after sternotomy but before CPB (T1), at the end of the cross-clamp CPB phase (T2), at the end of CPB (T3), at the end of the surgical procedure (T4), at 24 h postsurgery (T5).

RESULTS

In the CHDc group, S100B multiples of median (MoM) were significantly higher (p < .05, for all) from T0 to T5. PaO₂ was significantly lower (p < .05, for all) in CHDc infants at T0-T1 and at T4 while no differences (p > .05, for all) were found at T2, T3, T5. Linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation between S100B MoM at T3 and PaO₂ (R = 0.84; p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The present data showing higher hypoxia/hyperoxia-mediated S100B concentrations in CHDc infants suggest that CHDc are more prone to perioperative brain stress/damage and suggest the usefulness of further investigations to detect the "optimal" PaO₂ target in order to avoid the side effects associated with reoxygenation during CPB.

S100B maternal blood levels are gestational age- and gender-dependent in healthy pregnancies

BACKGROUND

S100B is a well-established biomarker of central nervous system (CNS) development and damage in the perinatal period. Because the fetal CNS induces an overproduction of S100B measurable in the maternal bloodstream we evaluated S100B protein in healthy pregnancies in order to provide a reference curve of the protein in the second and third trimesters and to provide information on CNS development when standard monitoring procedures could be silent or unavailable.

METHODS

Between July 2012 and December 2014 we conducted a prospective study in 1213 healthy pregnancies delivering healthy newborns. Maternal blood samples were collected for standard monitoring procedures and S100B assessment. S100B correlations with selected outcomes (gestational age at sampling, gender of fetus, gestational age and weight at birth, delivery mode) were calculated using multiple forward stepwise regression analysis.

RESULTS

S100B concentrations in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were found to be gestational age-, gender- and delivery mode-dependent (p<0.05, for all). Multiple forward stepwise regression analysis with S100B as the dependent variable and gestational age at sampling, gender, delivery mode, gestational age and weight at birth as independent variables, showed a significant correlation between S100B and gestational age at sampling (R=0.13; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings offering a S100B protein reference curve in maternal blood suggest that non-invasive fetal CNS monitoring is becoming feasible and open the way to further research in neuro-biomarker assessment in the maternal bloodstream.

Surgical rescue after transcatheter interventional procedures in congenital heart disease patients: an existing problem

AIMS

Nowadays, transcatheter approaches are the treatment of choice for several congenital heart defects. However, adverse events may occur during interventional procedures. Even if the complication rate has been reduced remarkably because of learning curve and technological improvements, catastrophic events are still possible. The aim of this study was to review cardiac catheter complications that required surgical treatment during or after a percutaneous procedure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We evaluated retrospectively a thirteen-year experience at our centre. We examined all transcatheter procedures involving device release or implantation needing surgical rescue. We performed 3,205 interventional catheterisation procedures with device release or implantation: ASD device closure (n=2,205), PDA device occlusion (n=355), VSD device closure (n=218), aortic coarctation or recoarctation stenting (n=199), pulmonary artery stenting (n=154) and pulmonary valve implantation (n=74). Complications that required surgical treatment occurred in 1.2% of cases. Early surgery was performed in 22 cases, while in 18 patients a surgical treatment related to late complications was performed in a mean follow-up of 17 months. There were no deaths in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

A spectrum of CHD can be treated today by transcatheter interventional procedures with good results and a low, but not negligible, risk of complications that require a surgical operation. The risk of developing late complications makes a long-term follow-up mandatory in such patients.

Coffee and tea consumption in relation with non-alcoholic fatty liver and metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Diet plays a role in the onset and progression of metabolic disorders, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to systematically review and perform quantitative analyses of results from observational studies on coffee/tea consumption and NAFLD or MetS.

METHODS

A Medline and Embase search was performed to retrieve articles published up to March 2015. We used a combination of the keywords "coffee", "caffeine", "tea", "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease", "non-alcoholic steatohepatitis", "metabolic syndrome". Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by random-effects model.

RESULTS

Seven studies assessed coffee consumption in NAFLD patients. Fibrosis scores were reported in four out of seven; all four studies revealed an inverse association of coffee intake with fibrosis severity, although the lack of comparable exposure and outcomes did not allow to perform pooled analysis. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria to be included in the meta-analysis on coffee consumption and MetS. Individuals consuming higher quantities of coffee were less like to have MetS (RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.79-0.96). However, the association of coffee and individual components of MetS was not consistent across the studies. Pooled analysis of six studies exploring the association between tea consumption and MetS resulted in decreased odds of MetS for individuals consuming more tea (RR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73-0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

Studies on coffee and NAFLD suggest that coffee consumption could have a protective role on fibrosis. Both coffee and tea consumption are associated with less likelihood of having MetS but further research with better designed studies is needed.

The clinical and diagnostic utility of S100B in preterm newborns

Preterm birth is still the most important cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Follow-up studies showed that the majority of neurological abnormalities during childhood are already present in the first week after birth. In this light, the knowledge of the timing of the insult and/or of the contributing factors is of utmost relevance in order to avoid adverse neurological outcome. Notwithstanding, the considerable advances in perinatal clinical care and monitoring, the early detection of cases at risk for brain damage is still a challenge because, when radiological pictures are still negative, brain damage may be already at a subclinical stage, with symptoms hidden by therapeutic strategies. Thus, it could be very relevant to measure quantitative parameters, such as neuroproteins, able to detect subclinical lesions at a stage when routine brain monitoring procedures are still silent. In the last decade, the assay of the brain-specific protein S100B in different biological fluids proved useful information on brain function and damage in the perinatal period. Therefore, the present study provides an overview of the most recent findings on S100B role as a reliable marker of brain development/damage in preterm high risk fetuses and newborns.

Neurological abnormalities in full-term asphyxiated newborns and salivary S100B testing: the "Cooperative Multitask against Brain Injury of Neonates" (CoMBINe) international study

BACKGROUND

Perinatal asphyxia (PA) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in newborns: its prognosis depends both on the severity of the asphyxia and on the immediate resuscitation to restore oxygen supply and blood circulation. Therefore, we investigated whether measurement of S100B, a consolidated marker of brain injury, in salivary fluid of PA newborns may constitute a useful tool for the early detection of asphyxia-related brain injury.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in 292 full-term newborns admitted to our NICUs, of whom 48 suffered PA and 244 healthy controls admitted at our NICUs. Saliva S100B levels measurement longitudinally after birth; routine laboratory variables, neurological patterns, cerebral ultrasound and, magnetic resonance imaging were performed. The primary end-point was the presence of neurological abnormalities at 12-months after birth.

RESULTS

S100B salivary levels were significantly (P<0.001) higher in newborns with PA than in normal infants. When asphyxiated infants were subdivided according to a good (Group A; n = 15) or poor (Group B; n = 33) neurological outcome at 12-months, S100B was significantly higher at all monitoring time-points in Group B than in Group A or controls (P<0.001, for all). A cut-off >3.25 MoM S100B achieved a sensitivity of 100% (CI5-95%: 89.3%-100%) and a specificity of 100% (CI5-95%: 98.6%-100%) as a single marker for predicting the occurrence of abnormal neurological outcome (area under the ROC curve: 1.000; CI5-95%: 0.987-1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

S100B protein measurement in saliva, soon after birth, is a useful tool to identify which asphyxiated infants are at risk of neurological sequelae.