Impact of Omega-3 Supplementation on High Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Level and 30-Day Major Adverse Cardiac Events After the Implementation of Coronary Stent in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Clinical Study

Purpose: Studies have revealed that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more susceptible to adverse effects of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In addition, the role of elevated high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the prediction of adverse cardiac outcomes after coronary stent implantation has already been shown. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of omega-3 supplementation on hs-CRP and 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with CKD undergoing elective PCI. Methods: In this randomized trial, 80 CKD patients who were candidates for elective PCI, were randomly assigned to two groups; the first group received a single dose of omega-3 (2500 mg, 12 h before PCI) as well as the standard drug regimen of PCI and the second group received placebo plus the standard therapy (325 mg loading dose of aspirin, 600 mg loading dose of clopidogrel, and weight-adjusted intravenous heparin). Hs-CRP levels were measured at baseline and 24 h after the intervention as a primary endpoint. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of MACE over a 30-day period after PCI. Results: Omega-3 did not significantly decrease post-PCI serum level of hs-CRP; however, the overall 30-day MACE was significantly lower in the omega-3 group compared to the control group (p=0.05). Conclusion: Our results revealed the positive effect of the omega-3 supplement on decreasing 30-day MACE; hence, omega-3 may be considered as an effective adjunctive therapy to the standard drug regimen used before PCI. The evaluation of the effect of omega-3 on long-term MACE is recommended for future studies

Immediate Small Side Branch Occlusion after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: Small side branches, albeit less important than their larger counterparts, have not yet received due attention in the literature. Nor has there ever been a comparison between drug-eluting stents and bare metal stents apropos side branch occlusion. The aim of this study was to compare the patency of small (≥0.5 and ≤1.5 mm in diameter) side branches with respect to bare metal vs. drug-eluting stents immediately after their deployment.Methods: This prospective bi-center study, conducted between June 2005 and January 2007, enrolled 82 patients treated with ≥1 of two stents (TAXUSTM LiberteTM or LiberteTM). Side branches ≥0.5 and <1.5 mm in diameter arising from the main vessel at the lesion site were evaluated. Results: Thirty-eight patients were treated with 42 LiberteTM stents (58 side branches) and forty-four patients with 50 TAXUSTM LiberteTM (102 side branches). The rate of small side branch occlusion was 35.3% (36) in the TAXUSTM LiberteTM group compared to 29.31% (15) in the LiberteTM group (P-value= 0.7). The presence of type 1 side branch morphology (Lefevre classification) was the most powerful predictor of small side branch occlusion (P-value=0.03). Conclusion: This study shows that drug-eluting stents are not inferior to bare metal stents as regards small side branch occlusion during coronary stentin

Takayasu arteritis presenting as sudden onset vision loss simulates multiple sclerosis: a case report

Neurological manifestation may complicate Takayasu arteritis (TA). A 23-year-old girl with sudden onset of vision loss was admitted to hospital. Her brain MRI showed abnormal T2-signal hyperintensity and visual evoked potential revealed prolonged P100 latency. Consequently, optic neuritis was diagnosed. A review on history of dizziness, falling, and weak pulses of upper extremities led to more investigation. Angiography revealed a total occlusion of right and left carotids, left vertebral arteries, aneurismal dilatation of innominate artery and critical stenosis of right vertebral artery. Following diagnosis of TA, stenting of right vertebral artery was done, but she passed away because of subarachnoid hemorrhage

A Case of Fatal Acute Lung Injury After Balloon Valvuloplasty of Pulmonary Stenosis: Case Report and Review of Literature

A newly described immediate complication after percutaneous pulmonary valvuloplasty is acute lung injury. Here we report a case of fatal acute lung injury after pulmonary valvuloplasty.The patient was a 26-year-old woman, referred to a general hospital with the diagnosis of livercirrhosis. In her work-ups severe pulmonary stenosis was detected and so a decision was madeto relieve the valve stenosis. Despite the procedural success, the patient developed severe dyspneaand desaturation a few hours later and died within 3 days due to shock state. Although the definition, incidence or severity of acute lung injury after pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty is not yet clear, this is as far as we know the first mortality reported in literature. This presentation in our patient should prompt clinicians to consider a more aggressive approach at the first sight of this previously considered innocent complication

Adherence to practice guidelines for coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Shiraz, Iran

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing tendency to use evidence-based medicine and guidelines among physicians. This is also true for concordance of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and guidelines; therefore, we aimed to address the adherence to 2011 American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American Heart Association (AHA) guideline for CABG. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed 246 patients who underwent CABG in Shiraz, Iran, during 2011-2012, using a data collecting form provided through studying ACCF/AHA guideline 2011. The patients were categorized into clinical subgroups and then grouped into appropriate, in-appropriate and uncertain classes. Chi-square was used to compare categorical variables and t-test was used for continuous variables. RESULTS: Of the 246 patients, 70.3% were grouped into &ldquo;Class I,&rdquo; 12.6% into &ldquo;Class IIa,&rdquo; 6.9% into &ldquo;Class IIb&rdquo; and 10.2% into &ldquo;Class III.&rdquo; Therefore, 82.9% of the patients were grouped into &ldquo;appropriate,&rdquo; 6.9% into &ldquo;uncertain,&rdquo; and 10.2% into group &ldquo;inappropriate.&rdquo; CONCLUSION: We suggest that more attention is needed to be paid to these guidelines. Using these guidelines may help surgeons to have a uniform approach for patients.</p

Increased risk of coronary perforation during percutaneous intervention of myocardial bridge: What histopathology says

Introduction: Myocardial bridge (MB) is a segment of a major epicardial coronary artery that goes intramurally under a bridge of overlying myocardium. Complications have been reported during or after stent implantation particularly coronary perforation. The aim of this study was to determine histological differences between proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the tunneled segment that may have a possible role in increased risk of coronary artery perforation during percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods: Twenty specimens of MB were obtained from dissection of 45 cadavers. Sections were stained using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and trichrome methods. The proximal section and the tunneled artery were compared with a normal sample in terms of the characteristics of a muscle artery. Results: The findings of this study showed an MB prevalence of 51%, as 23 out of the 45 examined cadavers were discovered to be afflicted by the MB. The intima layer in the suffering artery had gone through significant hypertrophy, while it had remained thin in the tunneled artery section. The epithelial cells under the bridge were spindle-shaped, while they were polygonal in the proximal section. In the myocardium the nuclei of the muscle fibers in the MB section were smaller than the normal section. Adventitial layer was almost normal. Conclusion: The histopathological differences between MB and proximal part of vessel combined with small vessel diameter in the tunneled segment can explain the high incidence of the LAD rupture and perforation in the section under the bridge

Effects of a therapeutic lifestyle change diet and supplementation with Q10 plus L-carnitine on quality of life in patients with myocardial infarction: A randomized clinical trial

Introduction: Myocardial infarction (MI) has a deleterious effect on quality of life (QoL), which can affect cardiac prognosis after MI. Thus, new strategies have to be identified for improving the QoL. To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted on the impact of therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) diet and L-carnitine plus Q10 supplementation on QoL after MI. Methods: The study aimed to measure 128 MI patients’ QoL using MacNew QoL questionnaire (global scales and physical, emotional, and social subscales) before and 3 months after the intervention. The patients were divided into 4 groups. Group A received TLC diet, group B orally received Q10 150 mg/d and L-carnitine 1200 mg/d, and group C received a combination of carnitine plus Q10 and TLC diet. Finally, group D, as the control group, only underwent the routine care. Results: The results showed a significant increase in MacNew questionnaire’s physical, emotional, and social subscales in the four groups after the intervention. The results of within-group analysis showed that the physical and emotional subscales changed significantly (P < 0.001 and P < 0.022, respectively). In the emotional subscale, TLC group showed a significant improvement compared to groups B and D (P < 0.019 and P < 0.001, respectively), but not group C (P < 0.681). In the physical subscale, Q10 plus L-carnitine group showed a significant improvement compared to groups A and D (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively), but not group C (P < 0.860). In the global scale, combination of carnitine plus Q10 and TLC diet group demonstrated a considerable improvement compared to groups A, B, and D (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). Nevertheless, the results of within-group analysis revealed no significant differences among the four groups regarding the social subscale (P < 0.229). Conclusion: Both TLC diet and supplementation with Q10 and L- carnitine had a positive effect on the physical and emotional subscales of MacNew questionnaire and may improve post-MI prognosis. Based on the results, combination of Q10 plus L-carnitine and TLC die can be a potential intervention for improving QoL and secondary prevention