Jung variable as a predictor of one year mortality and acute heart failure in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Uvod: Pravovremena i pouzdana stratifikacija rizika pacijenata sa akutnim ST eleviranim infarktom miokarda (STEMI) je važna zbog adekvatnog zbrinjavanja ovih bolesnika. Primarna perkutana koronarna intervencija (pPCI) je dovela do značajnog poboljšanja ishoda pacijenata sa STEMI, a time moguće i do promene prediktivne važnosti različitih faktora rizika. Jung variabla je jednostavan klinički indeks rizika koji se koristi tokom inicijalne prezentacije pacijenata. Pokazana je prediktivna vrednost Jung varijable za hospitalni mortalitet pacijenata sa STEMI lečenih fibrinolitičkom terapijom, dok uloga Jung varijable u dugoročnoj prognozi pacijenata lečenih putem pPCI nije razjašnjena. Cilj: Dokazati prediktivni značaj i odrediti najbolju vrednost Jung varijable u predviđanju jednogodišnjeg neželjenog kliničkog ishoda kod pacijenata sa STEMI lečenih pPCI, kao i dokazati njenu validnost na nezavisnoj populaciji. Metode: Sprovedena je prospektivna studija praćenja pacijenata sa STEMI lečenih pPCI tokom godinu dana; primarna studija je sprovedena u Institutu za kardiovaskularne bolesti Vojvodine (IKVBV), a validaciona u Vojnomedicinskoj akademiji (VMA). Ishodi studije: smrtni ishod, akutna srčana insuficijencija (AHF) i zbirni neželjeni ishod. Jung varijabla je računata prema formuli: sistolni krvni pritisak / (srčana frekvencija × godine života) × 100. Prediktivna vrednost Jung variable i prethodno etabliranih skorova rizika TIMI, PAMI i Zwolle je evaluiarana adekvatnim statističkim metodama. Rezultati: Od 647 pacijenata uključenih u primarnu studiju, umrlo je 70 (10.8%), dok je AHF imalo 42 (6.5%); od 418 pacijenata uključenih u validacionu studiju umrlo je 33 (7.9%), a 52 (12.4%) pacijenta je imalo AHF. U primarnoj studiji Jung variabla je bila prediktor smrtnog ishoda i zbirnog neželjenog ishoda, dok je u validacionoj studiji Jung varijabla bila nezavisni prediktor nastanka AHF (p0.05). C-statistika za predikciju AHF i zbirnog neželjenog ishoda u validacionoj studiji je bila dobra (0.732 (0.655-0.809) i 0.721 (0.655-0.788)), ali manja u odnosu na ostale ispitivane skorove (p0.05). C-statistic for predicting one-year AHF and combined clinical endpoint in a validation study was well (0.732 (0.655-0.809) and 0.721 (0.655-0.788), respectively), but lower than other risk scores (p<0.01). Conclusion: The Jung variable was independent predictor of one year mortality and combined end point in primary study STEMI patients treated with pPCI and independent predictor of AHF in validation study. The Jung variable, TIMI, PAMI, and Zwolle risk scores performed well and comparable for all clinical outcomes in primary, while in a validation study Jung variable performed well for AHF and combined end point, but significantly lower than other risk scores

Phenotypes and genotypes of macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Serbia

Although macrolides are widely used for treating pneumococcal infections, an increase in macrolide resistance might compromise their use. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of macrolide-resistant phenotypes and genotypes in macrolide-resistant S. pneumoniae isolates in Serbia. A total of 228 macrolide-resistant strains isolated during the period of 2009-2012, were analyzed. Macrolide resistance phenotypes were determined by a double disk diffusion test. The presence of macrolide resistance genes was detected by PCR. Antibiotics susceptibilities were tested using the VITEK2 system and E test. Among the examined isolates, the MLSB phenotype which is linked to the presence of the erm(B) gene dominated (83.3%), while the mef(A) gene which is associated with the M phenotype, was identified in 16.7% isolates. Over 40% of isolates expressed co-resistance to penicillin. A multiple-resistant pattern was found in 36.4% strains, more frequently in children. However, all strains were susceptible to telithromycin, vancomycin, linezolid, fluoroquinolones and rifampicin. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 175039

Jung variable as a predictor of one year mortality and acute heart failure in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Uvod: Pravovremena i pouzdana stratifikacija rizika pacijenata sa akutnim ST eleviranim infarktom miokarda (STEMI) je važna zbog adekvatnog zbrinjavanja ovih bolesnika. Primarna perkutana koronarna intervencija (pPCI) je dovela do značajnog poboljšanja ishoda pacijenata sa STEMI, a time moguće i do promene prediktivne važnosti različitih faktora rizika. Jung variabla je jednostavan klinički indeks rizika koji se koristi tokom inicijalne prezentacije pacijenata. Pokazana je prediktivna vrednost Jung varijable za hospitalni mortalitet pacijenata sa STEMI lečenih fibrinolitičkom terapijom, dok uloga Jung varijable u dugoročnoj prognozi pacijenata lečenih putem pPCI nije razjašnjena. Cilj: Dokazati prediktivni značaj i odrediti najbolju vrednost Jung varijable u predviđanju jednogodišnjeg neželjenog kliničkog ishoda kod pacijenata sa STEMI lečenih pPCI, kao i dokazati njenu validnost na nezavisnoj populaciji. Metode: Sprovedena je prospektivna studija praćenja pacijenata sa STEMI lečenih pPCI tokom godinu dana; primarna studija je sprovedena u Institutu za kardiovaskularne bolesti Vojvodine (IKVBV), a validaciona u Vojnomedicinskoj akademiji (VMA). Ishodi studije: smrtni ishod, akutna srčana insuficijencija (AHF) i zbirni neželjeni ishod. Jung varijabla je računata prema formuli: sistolni krvni pritisak / (srčana frekvencija × godine života) × 100. Prediktivna vrednost Jung variable i prethodno etabliranih skorova rizika TIMI, PAMI i Zwolle je evaluiarana adekvatnim statističkim metodama. Rezultati: Od 647 pacijenata uključenih u primarnu studiju, umrlo je 70 (10.8%), dok je AHF imalo 42 (6.5%); od 418 pacijenata uključenih u validacionu studiju umrlo je 33 (7.9%), a 52 (12.4%) pacijenta je imalo AHF. U primarnoj studiji Jung variabla je bila prediktor smrtnog ishoda i zbirnog neželjenog ishoda, dok je u validacionoj studiji Jung varijabla bila nezavisni prediktor nastanka AHF (p0.05). C-statistika za predikciju AHF i zbirnog neželjenog ishoda u validacionoj studiji je bila dobra (0.732 (0.655-0.809) i 0.721 (0.655-0.788)), ali manja u odnosu na ostale ispitivane skorove (p0.05). C-statistic for predicting one-year AHF and combined clinical endpoint in a validation study was well (0.732 (0.655-0.809) and 0.721 (0.655-0.788), respectively), but lower than other risk scores (p<0.01). Conclusion: The Jung variable was independent predictor of one year mortality and combined end point in primary study STEMI patients treated with pPCI and independent predictor of AHF in validation study. The Jung variable, TIMI, PAMI, and Zwolle risk scores performed well and comparable for all clinical outcomes in primary, while in a validation study Jung variable performed well for AHF and combined end point, but significantly lower than other risk scores

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and non-specific airway hyperreactivity in patients suffering from bronchial asthma

Background/Aim. Physical activity is a common stimulus of asthmatic symptoms manifestation. Airway hyperreactivity is a predisposing cause of exercise induced bronchial obstruction, diagnosed by histamine inhalation. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between the amounts of histamine needed to induce non-specific airway hyperreactivity and exercise-induced bronchial obstruction. Methods. This randomized cross-over study included 160 male patients (age 19-27 years) suffering from bronchial asthma who showed positive results as the reaction after the histamine bronchial provocation test. Histamine concentrations were in a range of 0.03 to 4 mg/mL. Each patient participated in the exercise stress test conducted on a conveyor belt. The results of the exercise stress test were considered positive if the FEV1 level dropped by at least 15% from its initial value, 5-10 minutes after the test. Results. All the patients showed positive results as the reaction after the histamine bronchial provocation test, while 50 of them showed positive results after the exercise-induced stress test. There was a statistically highly significant difference in administrated histamine concentrations between the group of patients that had positive results on exercise stress test and those who did not (1mg/mL vs 0.5mg/mL; U = 1678; p < 0.01). Also, there was a statistically significant difference concerning the frequency of the positive results regarding histamine concentration after induced stress test (χ2 = 10.885; p = 0.001). Among the patients with positive results, there was a statistically highly significant number of patients with bronchial obstruction induced by less than 2 mg/mL of histamine (p < 0.01). A statistically significant relation between the amount of histamine needed to induce bronchial obstruction and the results of the exercise stress test (p < 0.01) was also observed after the testing. Conclusion. In the group of patients with positive results after the exercise-induced stress test, there were significantly more patients with positive results to non-specific bronchial provocation test with lower histamine concentrations. Histamine concentrations needed to induce non-specific hyperreactivity of asthmatic airway were shown to be related to the reactivity to physical effort

Cardiac surgery in patients with chronic renal failure

Introduction/Objective. Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing cardiac surgery are believed to have more postoperative complications and significantly higher mortality rate. The aim of the paper was to determine preoperative predictors of exacerbation of CRF and the outcome in patients with CRF submitted to cardiac surgery. Methods. A retrospective study included 169 patients hospitalized from 2012 to 2015 (age 67.71 ± 8.46 years, 72.3% male). The analysis included numerous perioperative characteristics. Results. Preoperative stage I CRF was present in 62 (37%), stage II in 77 (46%), and stage III–V in 30 (17%) patients. Exacerbation of CRF was registered in 37 (21.9%), and the lethal outcome in 16 (9.5%) patients. Stage II of CRF (odds ratio [OR] 4.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31–17.28; p = 0.018) and stage III–V of CRF (OR 11.39; 95% CI 2.87–45.14; p = 0.001) were designated as predictors for exacerbation of CRF following cardiac surgery. In patients with CRF stage I and II, multivariate analysis designated previous cerebrovascular insult (OR 3.36; 95% CI 1.04–10.93; p = 0.044) and ejection fraction ≤ 35% (OR 5.35; 95% CI 1.83–15.64; p = 0.02) as predictors for the exacerbation of CRF. The only predictor of postoperative dialysis requirement was higher stage of CRF (OR 5.81; 95% CI 1.22–27.81; p = 0.028). CRF stage III–V was a predictor of lethal outcome (OR 7.64; 95% CI 1.49–39.27; p = 0.015). Conclusion. Higher stage of CRF in patients submitted to cardiac surgery is a predictor of exacerbation of renal failure and the lethal outcome

Clinical characteristic and management of elderly patients with myocardial infarction

Introduction/Objective. Population of elderly people is increasing and modern medicine is faced with the problem of large morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases in this age group. Modern treatment strategies have not been sufficiently investigated in the elderly, therefore these people often receive suboptimal treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate clinical characteristic, cardiac risk factors, management strategies and early outcome in the elderly patient with ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods. This retrospective study included 217 consecutive patients, aged ≥ 70 years (mean age 77.6 ± 4.9 years, 103 men, 114 women) with STEMI admitted to the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina. We have analyzed patients’ clinical characteristics, risk factors, left ventricular function and treatment strategies in relation to in-hospital outcome. Results. First clinical symptom was chest pain in 209 (96.3%) of patients. On admission, 35 (16.1%) patients were with severe signs of heart failure (Killip class III–IV). Duration of symptom onset to hospital admission was 14.7 ± 28.6 hours. Out of 217 patients, 168 (77.4%) patients received reperfusion treatment, including primary percutaneous coronary ntervention (PPCI) in 164 (75.6%) patients, and fibrinolytic therapy in 4 (1.8%) patients. Hospital mortality was 26.3% (57 patients). PPCI was univariate predictor of lower in-hospital mortality, whereas multivariate predictors of in-hospital mortality were cardiogenic shock (OR 67.095; 95% CI (6.845–657.646); p < 0.001) and low ejection fraction (OR 0.901; 95% CI (0.853–0.963); p = 0.001). Conclusion. In elederly patients presenting with STEMI, PPCI was asscoiated with lower mortality, whereas cardiogenic shock and lower ejection fraction were independent predictors of worse prognosis after STEMI

A review and assessment of cyanobacterial toxins as cardiovascular health hazards

Eutrophicated waters frequently support bloom-forming cyanobacteria, many of which produce potent cyanobacterial toxins (cyanotoxins). Cyanotoxins can cause adverse health effects in a wide range of organisms where the toxins may target the liver, other internal organs, mucous surfaces and the skin and nervous system. This review surveyed more than 100 studies concerning the cardiovascular toxicity of cyanotoxins and related topics. Over 60 studies have described various negative effects on the cardiovascular system by seven major types of cyanotoxins, i.e. the microcystin (MC), nodularin (NOD), cylindrospermopsin (CYN), anatoxin (ATX), guanitoxin (GNTX), saxitoxin (STX) and lyngbyatoxin (LTX) groups. Much of the research was done on rodents and fish using high, acutely toxin concentrations and unnatural exposure routes (such as intraperitoneal injection), and it is thus concluded that the emphasis in future studies should be on oral, chronic exposure of mammalian species at environmentally relevant concentrations. It is also suggested that future in vivo studies are conducted in parallel with studies on cells and tissues. In the light of the presented evidence, it is likely that cyanotoxins do not constitute a major risk to cardiovascular health under ordinary conditions met in everyday life. The risk of illnesses in other organs, in particular the liver, is higher under the same exposure conditions. However, adverse cardiovascular effects can be expected due to indirect effects arising from damage in other organs. In addition to risks related to extraordinary concentrations of the cyanotoxins and atypical exposure routes, chronic exposure together with co-existing diseases could make some of the cyanotoxins more dangerous to cardiovascular health