Pulse (Basel, Switzerland)

Background and Aims: This study investigated the possible correlation between elevated lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) levels and early vascular aging biomarkers in healthy children and adolescents. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy children/adolescents, mean age 9.9 ± 3.7 years, with high Lp(a) levels without other lipid abnormalities and 27 age- and sex-matched controls with normal Lp(a) levels, were included in the study. The investigation of possible early vascular aging was assessed by measuring vascular function indices: carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR)...

Sickle cell disease is an inherited hemoglobinopathy leading to the synthesis of hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin S results in the formation of abnormal sickle-shaped erythrocytes that lead to hematologic abnormalities such as hemolytic anemia and increased risks of thrombosis. Another particular problem encountered with the disease is pulmonary hypertension. The objective of this narrative review is to discuss the prevalence, pathophysiology mechanisms, diagnostic techniques, treatment options, and prognostic indicators in the setting of sickle cell disease with pulmonary hypertension...

Hypertension (HT) is an important risk factor for heart failure (HF). The prevalence of HT among the HF population is higher in Asia than in other regions around the world. In Asia, HT is the most common cause of HF after ischemic heart disease. Hypertensive HF (HHF) results from structural and functional adaptations of the heart, which lead to left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH). Hypertensive LVH can cause ventricular diastolic dysfunction and becomes a risk factor for myocardial infarction, which is a well-known cause of LV systolic dysfunction...

Background: Gender-related differences in phenotypic expression and outcomes have been established in many cardiac conditions; however, the impact of gender in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the differences in clinical outcomes between female and male HCM patients. Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to October 2020. Included were cohort studies that compared outcomes of interest including all-cause mortality, HCM-related mortality, and worsening heart failure (HF) or HF hospitalization between male and female...

Objective: The cold pressor test (CPT) has been shown a potential sympathoexcitatory stimulus which increases aortic pulse wave velocity and the aortic augmentation index, suggesting that noninvasively, arterial stiffness parameters are altered by the CPT. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is widely used for reflecting arterial stiffness, and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) for evaluating peripheral artery disease in obesity. We aimed to assess CAVI and ABI in overweight young adults in the context of sympathetic activation by using the CPT...

BACKGROUND: Previous analyses have identified common variants along with some specific genes and rare variants which are associated with risk of hypertension, but much remains to be discovered. METHODS AND RESULTS: Exome-sequenced UK Biobank participants were phenotyped based on having a diagnosis of hypertension or taking anti-hypertensive medication to produce a sample of 66,123 cases and 134,504 controls. Variants with minor allele frequency (MAF) <0.01 were subjected to a gene-wise weighted burden analysis, with higher weights assigned to variants which are rarer and/or predicted to have more severe effects...

INTRODUCTION: The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a well-known index to evaluate arterial stiffness and predict cardiovascular risk. METHODS: We investigated whether CAVI can predict severity and extent of peripheral arterial disease. This study was a single-center, retrospective, observational study approved by the Ethics Committee of Yokohama Shintoshi Neurosurgical Hospital. A total of 96 patients (males, 63) with an abnormal ankle-brachial blood pressure index (ABI) of <0...

Large artery stiffness (LAS) has proven to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Nevertheless, the position of current hypertension guidelines regarding the usefulness of assessing LAS differs across different continents. In general, European Guidelines recognize pulse wave velocity (PWV) as a marker of target organ damage but do not recommend its systematic use in general population. Asian guidelines consider PWV as a recommended test at diagnosis of hypertension, in contrast to North American guidelines that do not state any position about its usefulness...

Introduction: Dynamical systems theory, probability, and entropy were the substrate for the development of the diagnostic and predictive methodology of adult heart dynamics. Objective: To apply a previously developed methodology from dynamical systems, probability, and entropy in both normal and pathological subjects. Methods: Electrocardiographic records were selected from 30 healthy subjects and 200 with different pathologies, with a length of least 18 h...

Background and Objective: Serum magnesium, an essential trace element involved in processes that regulate cardiovascular function, has been linked to the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the potential association between serum magnesium and venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been previously investigated. We aimed to assess the prospective association of serum magnesium with the risk of VTE. Methods: Serum magnesium was measured using atomic absorption spectrometry in 2,361 men aged 42-61 years with no history of VTE at baseline in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort...

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the predictive value of the uric acid-to-serum albumin ratio (UAR) in establishing the severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients. Methods: A total of 402 patients (mean age 63.5 ± 11.6 years) were included in this retrospectively designed study. We compared Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery Scores (SS) between low (≤22) and intermediate-high (>22) groups...

Purpose: We sought to investigate the usefulness of stress echocardiography-derived E/e' in predicting subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic hypertensive patients. Materials and Methods: 71 newly diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients (48 ± 13 years, 65% males) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. Resting and exercise echocardiography was performed to assess resting diastolic blood pressure and the diastolic stress parameters. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) was evaluated as well...

Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) commonly have subclinical depression and are often delayed in their diagnosis. Literature suggests an increased association of depression and adverse cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction and heart failure. Prevalence of depression in developed countries is approximately 16.6%, and it confers higher cardiovascular mortality even after attrition bias and confounding factors are eliminated. Pharmacological and cognitive-behavioral therapy have been extensively studied, and are generally safe and effective in alleviating depressive symptoms in patients with CVD...

INTRODUCTION: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory fever syndrome distinguished by recurrent attacks of spontaneous peritonitis, pleuritis, fever, and arthritis. It is specifically seen in the ethnic groups of Mediterranean origin, but sporadic cases have been reported in Eastern Europe and America due to migrations. There is a number of cardiac manifestations associated with FMF. METHODS: Using PubMed as the search engine, the literature search was done for articles published between 1958 and 2020...

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Background: For cardiologists, management of acute chest pain continues to be a challenge. Physicians struggle to avoid unnecessary admissions and at the same time not to miss high-risk patients needing urgent intervention. Therefore, diagnostic strategies focus on identifying patients in whom an acute coronary syndrome can be safely ruled out based on findings from history, physical examination, and early cardiac marker measurement. The HEART score, a clinical prediction rule, was developed to provide the clinician with a simple and reliable predictor of cardiac risk...

Purpose: To investigate the association between 24-h blood pressure variability (BPV) and atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who developed new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF). Materials and Methods: A total of 175 STEMI patients (age 56.6 ± 10.5 years) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention were subjected to in-hospital 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, comprehensive echocardiography, and assessment of atrial EMD...

BACKGROUND: Most diabetic patients have silent ischemia and cardiac dysfunction that is usually observed in the late phase of the disease when it becomes clinically obvious. We hypothesized that left ventricular dyssynchrony (LVdys) (or dispersion) is an early marker of myocardial involvement in asymptomatic early type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Therefore, we aimed to detect early markers of myocardial dysfunction in early T2DM using LVdys and left ventricular mechanical reserve (LVMR)...

Background: Blood collection and blood pressure (BP) measurements are routinely performed during the same consultation to assess absolute cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study aimed to determine the effect of blood collection on BP and subsequent calculation of the absolute CVD risk. Methods: Forty-five participants aged 58 ± 9 years (53% male) had systolic BP (SBP) measured using clinical guideline methods (clinic SBP). Then, on a separate visit, BP was measured immediately before, during, and after blood collection...

Metabolic syndrome is an important health problem associated with both subclinical atherosclerosis and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and it leads to an elevated total mortality. Aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) is widely used for noninvasive assessment of arterial stiffness. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) predicts peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower extremities. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA) is thought to be involved in the development of arterial stiffness. The present study aimed to: (1) compare aPWV, ABI, and MDA between participants with MetS and those without MetS and (2) investigate the correlation of aPWV and ABI with the components of MetS and MDA...