Project description:ObjectiveCoronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is characterized by the decreased rate of contrast progression in epicardial coronary arteries in the absence of significant coronary stenosis. Mounting evidence has showed a significant association between inflammation and CSFP severity. This study aimed to evaluate possible associations between interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) gene variable number tandem repeat (VNTR), IL-1ß -511 single nucleotide (SNP), and IL-1ß+3954 SNP mutations with CSFP.MethodsForty-eight patients with CSFP and 62 controls with angiographically normal coronary arteries were prospectively enrolled in the study. Genotypes were assessed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.ResultsHomozygote genotype for allele 2 of+3954 C>T 2/2 genotype was significantly more frequent in patients with CSFP than in the control group, whereas 1/2 genotype was more frequent in the control group (35.4% versus 14.5% for 2/2 genotype and 25% versus 35.5% for 1/2 genotype in CSFP and control groups, respectively, X2=6.6; p=0.04). The allelic frequency of allele 2 of this polymorphism was significantly higher in the CSFP group than in the control group (47.9% versus 28.6% in the control group, X2=5.6; p=0.02). However, there was no significant difference with regard to genotype or allelic frequencies of IL-1ra VNTR or IL-1ß -511 SNP polymorphisms between patients with CSFP and controls.ConclusionIL-1ß+3954 SNP mutations are significantly more common in patients with CSFP. It may suggest that the tendency for inflammation may contribute to the presence of this phenomenon.
Project description:This study aimed to determine the effect of short-term remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on coronary blood flow and microcirculation function using the quantitative flow ratio (QFR) and index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR). We randomly divided 129 patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) into RIPC and control groups. Following the first CAG, we randomly divided the patients further into the unilateral upper limb and lower limb groups for four cycles of ischemia/reperfusion circulation; subsequently, we performed the second CAG. During each CAG, contrast-flow QFR (cQFR), fixed-flow QFR (fQFR), and IMR (in patients with cardiac syndrome X) were calculated and compared. We measured 253 coronary arteries in 129 patients. Compared to the control group, the average cQFR of the RIPC group increased significantly after RIPC. Additionally, 23 patients with cardiac syndrome X (IMR > 30) were included in this study. Compared to the control group, IMR and the difference between cQFR and fQFR (cQFR-fQFR) both decreased significantly after receiving RIPC. The application of RIPC can increase coronary blood flow and improve coronary microcirculation function.
Project description:BackgroundMounting evidence indicates an association between endothelial dysfunction and the coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP). In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the possible role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) 894G/T and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) 315C/T polymorphisms as possible risk factors for CSFP.MethodsThis prospective study enrolled patients with CSFP and individuals with normal coronary arteries. Genotypes were assessed using regular polymerase chain reaction and direct Sanger-sequencing techniques.ResultsThe study population consisted of 267 individuals: 180 patients with CSFP (49 women [27.2%]) at a median age of 55 (48-62) years and 87 controls with normal coronary arteries (56 women [64.4%]) at a median age of 47 (41-58) years. The allelic distribution of eNOS 894G/T was significantly associated with CSFP (odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-2.42; P = 0.03). This polymorphism increased the risk of CSFP under the dominant model (OR 1.73; 95% CI I.02-2.95; P = 0.04). However, the allelic frequencies (1.05; 95% CI 0.68-1.59; P = 0.83) and genotypic frequencies (0.88; 95% CI 0.52-1.49; P = 0.63) of the IL-1β 315C/T polymorphism were not associated with the incidence of CSFP in the Iranian population.ConclusionsThe CSFP and control groups were statistically different regarding the eNOS 894G/T polymorphism. Our findings also demonstrated that the IL-1β 315C/T polymorphism was not a risk factor for CSFP.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Psychiatric disorders (depression / anxiety) are linked to coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary slow flow (CSF) is a relatively common form of CAD with the same underlying mechanisms that are attributed to many anatomic and pathophysiologic factors. However, the relationship between psychiatric disorders and CSF is less well-established; and this is the aim of this study. METHODS:This cross-sectional observational study was conducted on the first 50 consecutive patients diagnosed with CSF by elective coronary angiography (CAG). They were compared with another 50 consecutive patients showing normal coronaries by CAG. Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory were used for assessment. CSF was diagnosed by coronary angiography "Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction" frame count. Lipid profile was obtained for all patients. RESULTS:Traditional risk factors (male gender, smoking, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins and triglycerides) were higher in the CSF group. Depression and anxiety scores were also higher in the CSF group. On multivariate analysis, male gender, depression and high triglycerides were the only significant independent predictors of CSF. A significant correlation existed between CSF and both anxiety and depression scores. Both scores were also significantly higher in multivessel vs single vessel affection. CONCLUSION:Psychiatric depression, male gender and high triglycerides are highly associated with CSF in patients undergoing elective CAG. There is a significant correlation between CSF severity and the severity of both anxiety and depression. Further studies are warranted to explore the impact of psychological intervention on CSF and its long-term outcome.
Project description:Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a genetic condition that accentuates the risk of potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a structurally normal heart. The Brugada electrocardiographic pattern may manifest separately from the syndrome-this clinical scenario has been described as Brugada phenocopy (BrP). Many etiologies of BrP have been reported, but it has not yet been reported as a result of coronary slow flow (CSF) phenomenon. This case report highlights a suspected coronary slow flow-associated Brugada type 1 electrocardiographic pattern, which subsequently normalized following the institution of guideline-directed medical therapy for acute coronary syndrome.
Project description:BackgroundSlow flow/no-reflow (SF-NR) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with poor prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Currently, effective treatment is not available for SF-NR. Electroacupuncture (EA) has shown significant efficacy as an adjuvant therapy for many cardiovascular diseases by improving microcirculation and reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, its effects on SF-NR in the AMI patients during PCI are not clear. This pilot trial aims to determine the efficacy of intraoperative EA in alleviating SF-NR in AMI patients undergoing PCI.MethodsThis prospective, single-center, randomized controlled, pilot trial will recruit 60 AMI patients scheduled for PCI at the Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, China. The patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into the EA or the control groups. Patients in the control group will undergo standard PCI. Patients in the EA group will undergo intraoperative electroacupuncture while undergoing standard PCI. Incidence of SF-NR is the primary outcome for this study. This study will also assess secondary outcomes including cardiac biomarkers, inflammatory biomarkers, pain and anxiety scores, electrocardiography parameters, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score, and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). All the included patients will undergo laboratory tests including routine blood tests, levels of electrolytes, as well as liver and renal function tests. Patients will be followed up for 1 month after the procedure.DiscussionThis pilot trial will provide evidence for the potential benefits of intraoperative EA in improving microvascular perfusion and preventing or alleviating SF-NR during PCI in patients with AMI. If proven effective, intraoperative EA will provide a new and effective strategy against SF-NR and provide evidence for subsequent multicenter trials.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier (ChiCTR2300072265). Registered on 8 June 2023.
Project description:Drummers are usually exposed to intensive physical stress and occupational diseases that have been only partially investigated. The majority of studies focus on musculoskeletal problems while microvascular abnormalities have been less considered. We report on a case of a 19-year-old drummer affected by Raynaud's phenomenon. The patient underwent nailfold video capillaroscopy that showed a non-specific pattern, with granular flow, dyshomogeneous capillary morphology, increased efferent/afferent loop ratio and many enlarged capillaries. The continuous exposition to vibration in drummers could determinate microvascular abnormalities with related cold induced disorders and Raynaud's phenomenon. Nailfold video capillaroscopy is a tool that allows to detect the alterations of the microcirculation and to carry out the follow-up of the patients with low cost, non-invasiveness, repeatability, high sensibility and specificity.
Project description:We report the case of a 55-year-old man who presented with acute coronary syndrome due to coronary slow flow after spinal cord injury. Data regarding the causes and clinical manifestations of coronary slow flow are inconclusive, but the autonomic nervous system is believed to be at least a contributing factor. The predominant vagal activity causes vasodilation and hemostasis, which can lead to acute coronary syndrome. We hereby call attention to hyperactive parasympathetic tonicity, which can lead to coronary slow flow and acute coronary syndrome in acute spinal cord injury patients.
Project description:White-blood-cell (WBC) assessment is employed for innumerable clinical procedures as one indicator of immune status. Currently, WBC determinations are obtained by clinical laboratory analysis of whole blood samples. Both the extraction of blood and its analysis limit the accessibility and frequency of the measurement. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of a non-invasive device to perform point-of-care WBC analysis without the need for blood draws, focusing on a chemotherapy setting where patients' neutrophils-the most common type of WBC-become very low. In particular, we built a portable optical prototype, and used it to collect 22 microcirculatory-video datasets from 11 chemotherapy patients. Based on these videos, we identified moving optical absorption gaps in the flow of red cells, using them as proxies to WBC movement through nailfold capillaries. We then showed that counting these gaps allows discriminating cases of severe neutropenia (<500 neutrophils per µL), associated with increased risks of life-threatening infections, from non-neutropenic cases (>1,500 neutrophils per µL). This result suggests that the integration of optical imaging, consumer electronics, and data analysis can make non-invasive screening for severe neutropenia accessible to patients. More generally, this work provides a first step towards a long-term objective of non-invasive WBC counting.
Project description:Coronary slow flow (CSF) is characterized by slow progression of coronary angiography without epicardial stenosis. The aim of this study was to explore the potential biomarkers and regulatory mechanism for CSF. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 3 cases of CSF and 3 healthy controls were collected for high-throughput sequencing of mRNA and miRNA, respectively. The differentially expressed mRNAs (DE-mRNAs) and miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) was identified. A total of 117 DE-mRNAs and 32 DE-miRNAs were obtained and they were mainly enriched in immune and inflammatory responses. Twenty-six DE-mRNAs were the predicted target genes for miRNAs by RAID, and then the regulatory network of 15 miRNAs were constructed. In addition, through the PPI network, we identified the three genes (FPR1, FPR2 and CXCR4) with larger degrees as hub genes. Among them, FPR1 was regulated by hsa-miR-342-3p, hsa-let-7c-5p and hsa-miR-197-3p and participated in the immune response. Finally, we validated the differential expression of hub genes and key miRNAs between 20 CSF and 20 control. Moreover, we found that miR-342-3p has a targeted regulatory relationship with FPR1, and their expression is negatively correlated. Then we established a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) HUVEC model and detected FPR1, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Transfection with miR-342-3p mimics can significantly promote the proliferation of HUVEC under H/R conditions. FPR1 were associated with CSF as a biomarker and may be regulated by miR-342-3p potential biomarkers.