Takayasu’s arteritis: A case report and a brief review of the literature

Takayasu’s arteritis primarily affects young women. The current case report focuses on a Caucasian middle-aged woman who complained of weakness, malaise, and fatigue for as many as 19 years. Delayed diagnosis and lack of specific treatment could explain the extent and the clinical severity of the disease at time of hospital admission. Angiography showed focal narrowings of the abdominal and thoracic aorta and occlusion of both the subclavian arteries, of the right coronary artery and severe stenosis of the first marginal obtuse. Takayasu’s arteritis is not limited to women of Japanese origin but is present worldwide. Early diagnosis and treatment is warranted. Outcome appears to be favorable when the disease is quiescent

Early Invasive Strategy for Unstable Angina: a New Meta-Analysis of Old Clinical Trials

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conflicting to support whether unstable angina versus non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI) patients best undergo early invasive or a conservative revascularization strategy. RCTs with cardiac biomarkers, in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1975-2013 were reviewed considering all cause mortality, recurrent non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and their combination. Follow-up lasted from 6-24 months and the use of routine invasive strategy up to its end was associated with a significantly lower composite of all-cause mortality and recurrent non-fatal MI (Relative Risk [RR] 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-0.90) in UA/NSTEMI. In NSTEMI, by the invasive strategy, there was no benefit (RR 1.19; 95%\u2009CI, 1.03-1.38). In the shorter time period, from randomization to discharge, a routine invasive strategy was associated with significantly higher odds of the combined end-point among UA/NSTEMI (RR 1.29; 95%\u2009CI, 1.05-1.58) and NSTEMI (RR 1.82; 95%\u2009CI, 1.34-2.48) patients. Therefore, in trials recruiting a large number of UA patients, by routine invasive strategy the largest benefit was seen, whereas in NSTEMI patients death and non-fatal MI were not lowered. Routine invasive treatment in UA patients is accordingly supported by the present study

Short term outcomes in the elderly patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes undergoing early percutaneous coronary intervention: a report from the ISACS-TC registry

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Sex Differences in Heart Failure Following Acute Coronary Syndromes

Background: There have been conflicting reports regarding outcomes in women presenting with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Objectives: The objective of the study was to examine sex-specific differences in 30-day mortality in patients with ACS and acute heart failure (HF) at the time of presentation. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients included in the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes-ARCHIVES (ISACS-ARCHIVES; NCT04008173). Acute HF was defined as Killip classes ≥2. Participants were stratified according to ACS presentation: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). Differences in 30-day mortality and acute HF presentation at admission between sexes were examined using inverse propensity weighting based on the propensity score. Estimates were compared by test of interaction on the log scale. Results: A total of 87,812 patients were included, of whom 30,922 (35.2%) were women. Mortality was higher in women compared with men in those presenting with STEMI (risk ratio [RR]: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.56-1.73) and NSTE-ACS (RR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.09-1.28; Pinteraction <0.001). Acute HF was more common in women when compared to men with STEMI (RR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.20-1.29) but not in those with NSTE-ACS (RR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.97-1.08) (Pinteraction <0.001). The presence of acute HF increased the risk of mortality for both sexes (odds ratio: 6.60; 95% CI: 6.25-6.98)

Statins for primary prevention among elderly men and women.

We undertook a propensity match-weighted cohort study to investigate whether statin treatment recommendations for statins translate into improved cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in the current routine clinical care of the elderly. We included in our analysis (ISACS Archives -NCT04008173) a total of 5619 Caucasian patients with no known prior history of CV disease who presented to hospital with a first manifestation of CV disease with age of 65 years or older. The risk of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was much lower in statin users than in non-users in both patients aged 65-75 years [14.7% absolute risk reduction; relative risk (RR): 0.55, 95% CI 0.45-0.66] and those aged 76 years and older (13.3% absolute risk reduction; RR: 0.58, 95% CI 0.46-0.72). Estimates were similar in patients with and without history of hypercholesterolaemia (interaction test; P-values = 0.24 and 0.35). Proportional reductions in STEMI diminished with female sex in the old (P for interaction = 0.002), but not in the very old age (P for interaction = 0.26). We also observed a remarkable reduction in the risk of 30 day mortality from STEMI with statin therapy in both age groups (10.2% absolute risk reduction; RR: 0.39; 95% CI 0.23-0.68 for patients aged 76 or over and 3.8% absolute risk reduction; RR 0.37; 95% CI 0.17-0.82 for patients aged 65-75 years old; interaction test, P-value = 0.46). Preventive statin therapy in the elderly reduces the risk of STEMI with benefits in mortality from STEMI, irrespective of the presence of a history of hypercholesterolaemia. This effect persists after the age of 76 years. Benefits are less pronounced in women. Randomized clinical trials may contribute to more definitively determine the role of statin therapy in the elderly.EMMACE was funded by the National Institute for Health Research and the British Heart Foundation.S

Osteoimmunopathology in HIV/AIDS: A Translational Evidence-Based Perspective

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) and the resulting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) alter not only cellular immune regulation but also the bone metabolism. Since cellular immunity and bone metabolism are intimately intertwined in the osteoimmune network, it is to be expected that bone metabolism is also affected in patients with HIV/AIDS. The concerted evidence points convincingly toward impaired activity of osteoblasts and increased activity of osteoclasts in patients with HIV/AIDS, leading to a significant increase in the prevalence of osteoporosis. Research attributes these outcomes in part at least to the ART, PI, and HAART therapies endured by these patients. We review and discuss these lines of evidence from the perspective of translational clinically relevant complex systematic reviews for comparative effectiveness analysis and evidence-based intervention on a global scale

Mediterranean diet impact on cardiovascular diseases: a narrative review

: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for more than 17 million deaths per year worldwide. It has been estimated that the influence of lifestyle on CVD mortality amounts to 13.7% for smoking, 13.2% for poor diet, and 12% for inactive lifestyle. These results deeply impact both the healthy status of individuals and their skills in working. The impact of CVD on productivity loss accounts for the 24% in total costs for CVD management.Mediterranean diet (MedD) can positively impact on natural history of CVD. It is characterized by a relatively high consumption of inexpensive and genuine food such as cereals, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, fresh fruits, and olive oil as the principal source of fat, low meat consumption and low-to-moderate consumption of milk, dairy products, and wine.Its effects on cardiovascular health are related to the significant improvements in arterial stiffness. Peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, and chronic heart failure are all positively influenced by the MedD. Furthermore, MedD lowers the risk of sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmias.The present narrative review aims to analyze the effects of MedD on CVD

Sex-related Differences In Acute Coronary Care Among Patients With Myocardial Infarction: The Role Of Pre-hospital Delay

Background: We sought to investigate sex-related differences in access to care among patients with myocardial infarction (STEMI) in order to identify gender-related factors associated with outcomes. Methods: We studied 7457 patients enrolled in the ISACS-TC registry 2010-2014 (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01218776). Outcome measures were: inhospital mortality, time delay to call emergency medical services (EMS), home-to-hospital delay using EMS, door-to-needle and door-to-balloon times and the overall time to treatment from symptom onset. Constant variables included in logistic regression analyses were: age, risk factors, severity of clinical presentation, reperfusion therapies, and concurrent acute medications. Time to treatment from symptom onset was used as dummy variable. Results: Women were less likely than men to receive care within the benchmark time for reperfusion therapy (time to treatment from symptom onset 60 min in 70.3% of women vs 29.7% of men. There were no significant differences in door-to-needle (median; 28 min vs 26 min) and door-to-balloon (median: 45 min vs 45 min) times. Major (z >4)determinants of poorer rates of reperfusion therapies included time to treatment from symptom onset >12 hours (adjusted OR: 5.37, CI: 4.58 - 6.31) Killip class > 2 (OR: 1.53, CI: 1.27-1.86) and history of prior heart failure (OR: 2.77, CI, 1.99 to 3.87). After adjustment, women had greater inhospital mortality rates than men (OR: 1.34, CI: 1.01-1.77). Sex differences in in-hospital mortality rates were no longer observed in the cohort, when time to treatment from symptom onset <12 hours was included in the multivariable analysis (OR: 1.31, CI: 0.98 -1.74). Conclusion: Sex differences in outcomes persist among STEMI patients, as fewer women receive timely reperfusion therapy. Pre-hospital delays in women experiencing STEMI remain unacceptably long

Sex-related Differences In Acute Coronary Care Among Patients With Myocardial Infarction: The Role Of Pre-hospital Delay

Background: We sought to investigate sex-related differences in access to care among patients with myocardial infarction (STEMI) in order to identify gender-related factors associated with outcomes. Methods: We studied 7457 patients enrolled in the ISACS-TC registry 2010-2014 (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01218776). Outcome measures were: inhospital mortality, time delay to call emergency medical services (EMS), home-to-hospital delay using EMS, door-to-needle and door-to-balloon times and the overall time to treatment from symptom onset. Constant variables included in logistic regression analyses were: age, risk factors, severity of clinical presentation, reperfusion therapies, and concurrent acute medications. Time to treatment from symptom onset was used as dummy variable. Results: Women were less likely than men to receive care within the benchmark time for reperfusion therapy (time to treatment from symptom onset 60 min in 70.3% of women vs 29.7% of men. There were no significant differences in door-to-needle (median; 28 min vs 26 min) and door-to-balloon (median: 45 min vs 45 min) times. Major (z >4)determinants of poorer rates of reperfusion therapies included time to treatment from symptom onset >12 hours (adjusted OR: 5.37, CI: 4.58 - 6.31) Killip class > 2 (OR: 1.53, CI: 1.27-1.86) and history of prior heart failure (OR: 2.77, CI, 1.99 to 3.87). After adjustment, women had greater inhospital mortality rates than men (OR: 1.34, CI: 1.01-1.77). Sex differences in in-hospital mortality rates were no longer observed in the cohort, when time to treatment from symptom onset <12 hours was included in the multivariable analysis (OR: 1.31, CI: 0.98 -1.74). Conclusion: Sex differences in outcomes persist among STEMI patients, as fewer women receive timely reperfusion therapy. Pre-hospital delays in women experiencing STEMI remain unacceptably long

Consensus standards for acquisition, measurement, and reporting of intravascular optical coherence tomography studies

Objectives: The purpose of this document is to make the output of the International Working Group for Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (IWG-IVOCT) Standardization and Validation available to medical and scientific communities, through a peer-reviewed publication, in the interest of improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease. Background: Intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) is a catheter-based modality that acquires images at a resolution of ∼10 μm, enabling visualization of blood vessel wall microstructure in vivo at an unprecedented level of detail. IVOCT devices are now commercially available worldwide, there is an active user base, and the interest in using this technology is growing. Incorporation of IVOCT in research and daily clinical practice can be facilitated by the development of uniform terminology and consensus-based standards on use of the technology, interpretation of the images, and reporting of IVOCT results. Methods: The IWG-IVOCT, comprising more than 260 academic and industry members from Asia, Europe, and the United States, formed in 2008 and convened on the topic of IVOCT standardization through a series of 9 national and international meetings. Results: Knowledge and recommendations from this group on key areas within the IVOCT field were assembled to generate this consensus document, authored by the Writing Committee, composed of academicians who have participated in meetings and/or writing of the text. Conclusions: This document may be broadly used as a standard reference regarding the current state of the IVOCT imaging modality, intended for researchers and clinicians who use IVOCT and analyze IVOCT data