This study aimed to analyse health related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with different atrial fibrillation (AF) types and to identify patient characteristics, symptoms and comorbidities that ...influence HRQoL.
We used baseline data from the Swiss Atrial Fibrillation (Swiss-AF) study, a prospective multicentre observational cohort study conducted in 13 clinical centres in Switzerland. Between April 2014 and August 2017, 2415 AF patients were recruited. Patients were included in this analysis if they had baseline HRQoL data as assessed with EQ-5D-based utilities and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. Patient characteristics and HRQoL were described stratified by AF type. The impact of symptoms, comorbidities and socio-economic factors on HRQoL was analysed using multivariable regression analysis.
Based on 2412 patients with available baseline HRQoL data, the lowest unadjusted mean HRQoL was found in patients with permanent AF regardless of whether measured with utilities (paroxysmal: 0.83, persistent: 0.84, permanent: 0.80, p<0.001) or VAS score (paroxysmal: 73.6, persistent: 72.8, permanent: 69.2, p<0.001). In multivariable analysis of utilities and VAS scores, higher European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) score, recurrent falls and several comorbidities showed a strong negative impact on HRQoL while AF type was no longer associated with HRQoL.
Multiple factors turned out to influence HRQoL in AF patients. After controlling for several comorbidities, the EHRA score was one of the strongest predictors independent of AF type. The results may be valuable for better patient assessment and provide a reference point for further QoL and health economic analyses in AF populations.
During solar storms, the Sun expels large amounts of energetic particles (SEP) that can react with the Earth's atmospheric constituents and produce cosmogenic radionuclides such as
C,
Be and
Cl. Here ...we present
Be and
Cl data measured in ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica. The data consistently show one of the largest
Be and
Cl production peaks detected so far, most likely produced by an extreme SEP event that hit Earth 9125 years BP (before present, i.e., before 1950 CE), i.e., 7176 BCE. Using the
Cl/
Be ratio, we demonstrate that this event was characterized by a very hard energy spectrum and was possibly up to two orders of magnitude larger than any SEP event during the instrumental period. Furthermore, we provide
Be-based evidence that, contrary to expectations, the SEP event occurred near a solar minimum.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Extracellular DNA is a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic mediator in vitro and in animal models. Levels ...of circulating extracellular DNA (ceDNA) are increased in VTE patients, but the association of ceDNA with VTE extent and clinical outcome is poorly understood.
We analyzed the association of ceDNA with the extent of VTE, categorized as distal and proximal deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and with the clinical outcomes VTE recurrence and mortality.
We quantified ceDNA by a fluorescent probe, as well as circulating nucleosomes and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) by ELISA in plasma from 611 patients aged ≥ 65 years with acute VTE of a prospective cohort study (SWITCO65+).
Levels of ceDNA and nucleosomes, but not NETs, correlated with VTE extent. Infectious comorbidities independently increased ceDNA levels in VTE. CeDNA strongly correlated with C-reactive protein and leukocytosis, suggesting an association of ceDNA with inflammation in VTE patients. CeDNA furthermore predicted PE-related and all-cause mortality, but not VTE recurrence, during a 3-year follow-up.
Our study suggests that ceDNA levels in VTE patients reflect the degree of inflammation and may serve as a biomarker to stratify VTE patients at risk for mortality.
Abstract
Aims
We aimed to investigate the association of clinically overt and silent brain lesions with cognitive function in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.
Methods and results
We enrolled 1227 ...AF patients in a prospective, multicentre cohort study (Swiss-AF). Patients underwent standardized brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and after 2 years. We quantified new small non-cortical infarcts (SNCIs) and large non-cortical or cortical infarcts (LNCCIs), white matter lesions (WML), and microbleeds (Mb). Clinically, silent infarcts were defined as new SNCI/LNCCI on follow-up MRI in patients without a clinical stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) during follow-up. Cognition was assessed using validated tests. The mean age was 71 years, 26.1% were females, and 89.9% were anticoagulated. Twenty-eight patients (2.3%) experienced a stroke/TIA during 2 years of follow-up. Of the 68 (5.5%) patients with ≥1 SNCI/LNCCI, 60 (88.2%) were anticoagulated at baseline and 58 (85.3%) had a silent infarct. Patients with brain infarcts had a larger decline in cognition median (interquartile range) changes in Cognitive Construct score −0.12 (−0.22; −0.07) than patients without new brain infarcts 0.07 (−0.09; 0.25). New WML or Mb were not associated with cognitive decline.
Conclusion
In a contemporary cohort of AF patients, 5.5% had a new brain infarct on MRI after 2 years. The majority of these infarcts was clinically silent and occurred in anticoagulated patients. Clinically, overt and silent brain infarcts had a similar impact on cognitive decline.
Clinical Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02105844, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02105844
Structured Graphical Abstract
Structured Graphical Abstract
Brain damage and change in cognitive function in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Improved thromboprophylaxis for acutely ill medical patients relies on valid predictions of thrombotic risks. Our aim was to compare the performance of the Improve and Geneva clinical risk assessment ...models (RAMs), and to simplify the current Geneva RAM.
Medical inpatients from eight Swiss hospitals were prospectively followed during 90 days, for symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) or VTE-related death. We compared discriminative performance and calibration of the RAMs, using time-to-event methods with competing risk modelling of non-VTE death.
In 1,478 patients, the 90-day VTE cumulative incidence was 1.6%. Discrimination of the Improve and Geneva RAM was similar, with a 30-day AUC (areas under the curve) of 0.78 (95% CI confidence interval: 0.65-0.92) and 0.81 (0.73-0.89), respectively. According to the Improve RAM, 68% of participants were at low risk (0.8% VTE at 90 days), and 32% were at high risk (4.7% VTE), with a sensitivity of 73%. According to the Geneva RAM, 35% were at low risk (0.6% VTE) and 65% were at high risk (2.8% VTE), with a sensitivity of 90%. Among patients without thromboprophylaxis, the sensitivity was numerically greater in the Geneva RAM (85%) than in the Improve RAM (54%). We derived a simplified Geneva RAM with comparable discrimination and calibration as the original Geneva RAM.
We found comparably good discrimination of the Improve and Geneva RAMs. The Improve RAM classified more patients as low risk, but with possibly lower sensitivity and greater VTE risks, suggesting that a lower threshold for low risk (<2) should be used. The simplified Geneva RAM may represent an alternative to the Geneva RAM with enhanced usability.
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/Kexin 9 (PCSK 9) is revealed to be a key player in lipid metabolism and, therefore, in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. PCSK 9 binds to the ...low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, induces its degradation, and increases circulating blood LDL. As a result, PCSK 9 inhibitors represent an essential pillar in cardiovascular risk reduction therapies due to their highly sufficient LDL decreasing properties. While the influence of PCSK 9 on lipid metabolism has been widely investigated, the full pathophysiological spectrum of PCSK 9 is yet to be determined. Statins have already been demonstrated to have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects. In this context, evidence suggests that PCSK 9 also interferes with inflammatory processes, thereby contributing to the development of atherosclerosis. As lipid metabolism on its own affects inflammatory processes, it is difficult to distinguish between lipid-dependent and -independent inflammatory properties of PCSK 9. A body of evidence has revealed that PCSK9 LDL-independently regulates the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-underlying pathways in vascular walls, whereas recent observations suggest that PCSK9 also interacts with lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) and dampens inflammatory responses through LDL reduction. In conclusion, this review provides mounting evidence indicating how PCSK9 promotes vascular inflammation and subsequent atherosclerosis to shed light on the anti-inflammatory effects of PCSK9 inhibitors in the prevention of atherosclerosis.
Apelin-potential therapy for COVID-19? Saeedi Saravi, Seyed Soheil; Beer, Jürg H.
Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology,
08/2020, Letnik:
145
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We believe that, in parallel to the attempts for direct blockade of the SARS-CoV-2 penetration into host cell and repurposing drugs, finding new therapeutic strategies for patients with lung injury ...or cardiovascular complications/coagulopathies associated with COVID-19 should be paid particular attention. Apelin or its receptor agonists are of great potential treatment for COVID-19 through suppressing angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II (Ang-II) production, as well as, down-regulating angiotensin receptor 1 (AT1R) and ACE2 up-regulation. These drugs have potential to improve acute lung injury and cardiovascular/coagulopathy complications in COVID-19 which are associated with elevated Ang-II/Ang(1–7) ratio.
•RAS up-regulation is associated with lung and cardiovascular injuries in COVID-19.•Apelin can suppress ACE and AT1R, and activate ACE2 which is down-regulated by SARS-CoV-2.•Apelin may improve Ang-II-mediated inflammation, thrombosis, and vasoconstriction in COVID-19.•Apelin and its receptor agonists could be trialed in COVID-19 patients.
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