The role of insulin therapy and glucose normalisation in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and diabetes mellitus, as well as patients admitted with elevated blood glucose without known diabetes, have impaired outcome. Therefore intensive glucose-lowering therapy with insulin (IGL) has been proposed in diabetic or hyperglycaemic patients and has been shown to improve survival and reduce incidence of adverse events. The current manuscript provides an overview of randomised controlled trials investigating the effect of IGL. Furthermore, systematic glucose–insulin–potassium infusion (GIK) has been studied to improve outcome after AMI. In spite of positive findings in some early studies, GIK did not show any beneficial effects in recent clinical trials and thus this concept has been abandoned. While IGL targeted to achieve normoglycaemia improves outcome in patients with AMI, achievement of glucose regulation is difficult and carries the risk of hypoglycaemia. More research is needed to determine the optimal glucose target levels in AMI and to investigate whether computerised glucose protocols and continuous glucose sensors can improve safety and efficacy of IGL

The 'peptide for life' initiative in the emergency department study.

AIMS: Natriuretic peptide (NP) uptake varies in Emergency Departments (EDs) across Europe. The 'Peptide for Life' (P4L) initiative, led by Heart Failure Association, aims to enhance NP utilization for early diagnosis of heart failure (HF). We tested the hypothesis that implementing an educational campaign in Western Balkan countries would significantly increase NP adoption rates in the ED. METHODS AND RESULTS: This registry examined NP adoption before and after implementing the P4L-ED study across 10 centres in five countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. A train-the-trainer programme was implemented to enhance awareness of NP testing in the ED, and centres without access received point-of-care instruments. Differences in NP testing between the pre-P4L-ED and post-P4L-ED phases were evaluated. A total of 2519 patients were enrolled in the study: 1224 (48.6%) in the pre-P4L-ED phase and 1295 (51.4%) in the post-P4L-ED phase. NP testing was performed in the ED on 684 patients (55.9%) during the pre-P4L-ED phase and on 1039 patients (80.3%) during the post-P4L-ED phase, indicating a significant absolute difference of 24.4% (95% CI: 20.8% to 27.9%, P < 0.001). The use of both NPs and echocardiography significantly increased from 37.7% in the pre-P4L-ED phase to 61.3% in the post-P4L-ED phase. There was an increased prescription of diuretics and SGLT2 inhibitors during the post-P4L-ED phase. CONCLUSIONS: By increasing awareness and providing resources, the utilization of NPs increased in the ED, leading to improved diagnostic accuracy and enhanced patient care

RELMα-expressing macrophages protect against fatal lung damage and reduce parasite burden during helminth infection.

Alternatively activated macrophages (AAMs) can contribute to wound healing, regulation of glucose and fat metabolism, resolution of inflammation, and protective immunity against helminths. Their differentiation, tissue distribution, and effector functions are incompletely understood. Murine AAMs express high levels of resistin-like molecule (RELM) α, an effector protein with potent immunomodulatory functions. To visualize RELMα+ macrophages (MΦs) in vivo and evaluate their role in defense against helminths, we generated RELMα reporter/deleter mice. Infection with the helminth Nippostrongylus brasiliensis induced expansion of RELMα+ lung interstitial but not alveolar MΦs in a STAT6-dependent manner. RELMα+ MΦs were required for prevention of fatal lung damage during primary infection. Furthermore, protective immunity was lost upon specific deletion of RELMα+ MΦs during secondary infection. Thus, RELMα reporter/deleter mice reveal compartmentalization of AAMs in different tissues and demonstrate their critical role in resolution of severe lung inflammation and protection against migrating helminths

Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for ST-elevation of myocardial infarction in young women

Background St-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the most serious form of clinical presentation of coronary heart disease. Women with STEMI have worse prognosis compared with men. The overall reduction in both incidence of STEMI and active smokers makes it unclear what role smoking continues to play as a risk factor for STEMI in the two sexes. Purpose To use the relation between current cigarette smoking and myocardial infarction to quantify the relative risk (RR) ratio of STEMI in women and men. Methods Data were derived from 11,925 consecutive patients admitted to 41 hospitals referring data to the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) registry (NCT0128776) from January 2010 to July 2018 with a first acute myocardial infarction. Outcome measures included rates of STEMI at clinical presentation as marker of larger infarctions. Estimates were obtained using logistic-regression and propensity score matching models for current versus never or former smokers. The RR was estimated using men as a reference value. Results Smokers experienced myocardial infarction (either STEMI or non-STEMI) much earlier than did non-smokers both in women (59.0±10.2 versus 68.7±11.30 years) and men (55.8±10.3 versus 63.3±11.7 years). Current tobacco smoking was more prevalent in men (50.35% vs 31.75%) and in younger patients (57.71 vs 28.81%). Among younger patients, smoking remained prevalent in men (60.11% vs 49.85%). Smoking was significantly related to STEMI (OR 1.45; 95% CI: 1.32–1.59) compared with non-STEMI. This association was noted in women (OR 1.61; 95% CI: 1.34–1.93) and men (OR 1.39; 95% CI: 1.24–1.56) and was stronger for younger (&lt;65 years) compared with older ages (ORs 1.49; 95% CI: 1.33–1.67 vs 1.34; 95% CI: 1.13–1.59). The risk of STEMI in young women was higher than in young men (ORs 1.63; 95% CI 1.30–2.06 vs 1.45; 95% CI 1.26–1.66,). Propensity score matching analysis confirmed data. Rates of STEMI in young women and young men were 75.8% versus 64.5%, with a significant RR ratio (OR 1.15; CI 1.07–1.23) across outcomes. Conclusions Although current smoking still is an important risk factor for STEMI at all ages and sexes, it is especially relevant in younger women. Mechanisms underlying the sex difference are not related to differences in smoking behaviour. This finding is a critical reminder that physicians and society should address in rigorous tobacco-control programs in the general population with a distinctive emphasis on women, particularly in those countries where smoking among young women is increasing in prevalence

Smoking and sex differences in first manifestation of cardiovascular disease

Background and aims: An increasing proportion of women believe that smoking few cigarettes daily substantially reduces their risk of developing cardiovascular (CV) related disorders. The effect of low intensity smoking is still largely understudied. We investigated the relation among sex, age, cigarette smoking and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as initial manifestation of CV disease. Methods: We analyzed data of 50,713 acute coronary syndrome patients with no prior manifestation of CV disease from the ISACS-Archives (NCT04008173) registry. We compared the rates of STEMI in current smokers (n = 11,530) versus nonsmokers (n = 39,183). Results: In the young middle age group (&lt;60 years), there was evidence of a more harmful effect in women compared with men (RR ratios: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.69\u20132.14 versus 1.68; 95% CI: 1.56\u20131.80). This association persisted even in women who smoked 1 to 10 packs per year (RR ratios: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.65 to 2.48 versus 1.38; 95% CI: 1.22 to 1.57). In the older group, rates of STEMI were similar for women and men (RR ratios: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.22\u20131.53 versus 1.39; 95% CI: 1.28\u20131.50). STEMI was associated with a twofold higher 30-day mortality rate in young middle age women compared with men of the same age (odds ratios, 5.54; 95% CI, 3.83\u20138.03 vs. 2.93; 95% CI, 2.33\u20133.69). Conclusions: Low intensity smoking provides inadequate protection in young - middle age women as they still have a substantially higher rate of STEMI and related mortality compared with men even smoking less than 10 packs per year. This finding is worrying as more young - middle age women are smoking, and rates of smoking among young-middle age men continue to fall

Cognitive functioning and quality of life in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis on long-term levothyroxine replacement

Item does not contain fulltextOBJECTIVE: Intrinsic imperfections of thyroid hormone replacement therapy may affect long-term general well-being. In patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), cognitive functioning may be affected via altered thyroid hormones action as well as by the autoimmune process. The aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive function and quality of life (QoL) in patients on long-term levothyroxine replacement for HT in relation to thyroid function tests and TPO (thyroid-peroxidase) antibody (TPOAb) status. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: One-hundred-and thirty patients with HT on long-term levothyroxine replacement and 111 euthyroid control subjects. Both groups were divided into two age subgroups, 20-49 years (N = 59 vs N = 79) and > 50 years (N = 71 vs N = 32). Evaluation included biochemical and neuropsychological tests, evaluating attention, global cognitive status, verbal and working memory, executive function, depression and anxiety, and quality of life. We used ANOVA and partial correlations to test for significant associations. RESULTS: FT4 (free-thyroxine), FT3 (free-triiodothyronine) levels and FT3/FT4 ratio were not different between patients and controls. Mean TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) was normal in all subjects but significantly higher in the patients (20-49 yrs:3.64 +/- 2.74 vs 1.93 +/- 1.10, >50 yrs:3.93 +/- 2.84 vs 1.91 +/- 0.90). Antibodies (TgAb,TPOAb) were higher in patients. Global cognitive function (MMSE-Mini mental state examination), conceptual tracking (TMT-Trail Making Test:A/B), verbal divergent thinking (like Phonemic fluency test), and anxiety and depression scores were significantly worse in patients vs controls. QoL was impaired in patients. there was a significant negative correlation between antibodies (TPOAb, TgAb) and quality in life (total SF36 score). CONCLUSION: Patients on long-term levothyroxine replacement show persistent impairments in both cognitive functioning and general well-being

Gender differences in case fatality rates of acute myocardial infarction in Serbia

We sought to investigate sex differences in clinical characteristics, treatment and in in-hospital mortality in patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Serbia. From October 2010 to September 2013, a total of 2348 patients have been hospitalized and received medical treatment for STEMI in 19 hospitals, referring data to the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) registry. There were 773 women and 1575 men. Women were older than man, with a higher prevalence of family history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes. They were less likely to be smokers and more likely to have a prior angina and history of heart failure. Fewer women than men presented within 2 h from symptom onset (P = 0.005). They presented more with Killip class ≥2 than men (P = 0.004). A significantly lower proportion of women was treated with aspirin (91.3% vs 94.3%, P = 0.007), clopidogrel (88% vs. 91%, P = 0.02), heparins (61.6% vs. 66.5%, P = 0.01) and primary percutaneous coronary interventions (62.1% vs. 69.7%, P &lt; 0.001). The in-hospital mortality was significantly higher for women than for men (13.2% vs. 6.4%, P &lt; 0.001). After adjustment for any confounders, women showed an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 1.97, 95% confidence interval: 1.28-3.01, P = 0.002). Several factors contribute to the excess in-hospital case fatality rates in Serbian women. Most notably disparities in medical treatment appear to play a crucial role. © 2013 Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2013

The 'peptide for life' initiative in the emergency department study

Aims: Natriuretic peptide (NP) uptake varies in Emergency Departments (EDs) across Europe. The 'Peptide for Life' (P4L) initiative, led by Heart Failure Association, aims to enhance NP utilization for early diagnosis of heart failure (HF). We tested the hypothesis that implementing an educational campaign in Western Balkan countries would significantly increase NP adoption rates in the ED. Methods and results: This registry examined NP adoption before and after implementing the P4L-ED study across 10 centres in five countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. A train-the-trainer programme was implemented to enhance awareness of NP testing in the ED, and centres without access received point-of-care instruments. Differences in NP testing between the pre-P4L-ED and post-P4L-ED phases were evaluated. A total of 2519 patients were enrolled in the study: 1224 (48.6%) in the pre-P4L-ED phase and 1295 (51.4%) in the post-P4L-ED phase. NP testing was performed in the ED on 684 patients (55.9%) during the pre-P4L-ED phase and on 1039 patients (80.3%) during the post-P4L-ED phase, indicating a significant absolute difference of 24.4% (95% CI: 20.8% to 27.9%, P < 0.001). The use of both NPs and echocardiography significantly increased from 37.7% in the pre-P4L-ED phase to 61.3% in the post-P4L-ED phase. There was an increased prescription of diuretics and SGLT2 inhibitors during the post-P4L-ED phase. Conclusions: By increasing awareness and providing resources, the utilization of NPs increased in the ED, leading to improved diagnostic accuracy and enhanced patient care