Hot Topics archive
Hot Topics: ECG early after primary PCI predicts final infarct size and cardiac function
Three methods for calculating ST-segment recovery in ECG at baseline and 90 minutes after PCI predict final infarct size and cardiac function in STEMI patients.
Hot Topics: Reduced SERCA2 abundance decreases the propensity for Ca wave development in ventricular myocytes
Knockout of SERCA2 in mice resulted in decreased amplitude and decay rate of Ca2+ transients, reduced SR Ca2+ content, and decreased propensity for Ca2+ wave development.
Hot Topics: Myocardial strain parameter predicts arrhythmias after MI
Mechanical dispersion is a strong and independent predictor of arrhythmias requiring ICD therapy after MI.
Hot Topics: Echocardiographic parameters of LV systolic function are excellent parameters to identify NSTEMI patients who may benefit from urgent reperfusion therapy
Global longitudinal strain and wall motion score index measured early in NSTEMI patients predict final infarct size and may therefore be excellent parameters to identify patients with substantial MI who may benefit from urgent reperfusion therapy.
Hot Topics: Everolimus beneficial after heart and lung transplantation
Introduction of everolimus with simultaneous reduction in calcineurin inhibitor exposure in heart and lung transplantation recipients significantly improves renal function.
Hot Topics: Natriuretic peptides increase β1-adrenoceptor signaling in failing hearts through phosphodiesterase 3 inhibition
This response may in the long term be detrimental to the failing heart through mechanisms similar to those operating during treatment with phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitors or during chronic β-adrenergic stimulation. Read more here...
Hot Topics: A highly sensitive troponin T assay gives valuable information in CAD patients
Cardiac troponin T concentrations as measured with a highly sensitive assay are significantly associated with the incidence of cardiovascular death and heart failure in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Read more here...
Hot Topics: No improvement of long-term survival after iv. drug administration during advanced cardiac life support
Iv. drug administration during advanced cardiac life support following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest improves short-term survival but not survival to hospital discharge or long-term survival. Read more here...
Hot Topics: Beneficial effects of immediate transfer for PCI after thrombolysis
The NORDISTEMI study demonstrates that immediate transfer for PCI is superior to ischemia-guided management after thrombolysis in patients with STEMI in areas with very long transfer distances.
Read abstract here...
Hot Topics: Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation stabilizes end-stage heart failure patients
This retrospective study demonstrates that intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) treatment stabilizes patients in end-stage heart failure with severe hypoperfusion, and that this treatment is successful in bridging acutely decompensated patients to transplantation. Following IABP and heart transplantation, short- and long-term survival, biochemical and invasive and non-invasive hemodynamic outcomes were similar to those in electively transplanted patients. Read abstract...
Hot Topics: Poster prize winners 7th Annual CHFR Symposium
Congratulations to:
Ida G. Lunde
Phosphorylation of syndecan-4 regulates myocardial hypertrophy through the calcineurin-NFAT signalling pathway. Abstract
M. Shakil Ahmed/Jørgen Gravning
CCN2/CTGF prevents heart failure and improves survival after myocardial infarction.Abstract
Mathis Stokke
The effect of beta adrenergic stimulation on arrhythmogenic Ca2+ release in ventricular cardiomyocytes with reduced SERCA2 abundance. Abstract
Ole Jakob How
Dobutamine-norepinephrine, but not vasopressin, restores the ventriculoarterial matching in experimental cardiogenic shock Abstract
Hot Topics: Piboserod - new treatment for heart failure
Treatment with the 5-HT4 serotonin receptor antagonist piboserod in patients with heart failure significantly improves left ventricular function.
Myocardial 5-HT4 serotonin receptors are increased and activated in heart failure. In this prospective, double-blind, parallel group trial, patients with heart failure treated with the potent, selective, 5-HT4 serotonin receptor antagonist piboserod for 24 weeks had a significantly increase in EF by 1.7%. There was a trend for greater increase in EF (2.7%) in a subset of patients not on chronic beta-blocker therapy.
European Journal of Heart Failure 2009 11(8):771-778
Hot Topics: The heart can compensate for loss of the calcium pump (SERCA2)
In the heart, the release of calcium from intracellular stores triggers muscle contraction. Lowered activity of the SERCA2 pump and reduced stores have been thought to cause heart failure. In a new mouse model it was surprising that despite almost complete absence of SERCA2 protein due to destruction of the Serca2 gene, heart function was maintained due to powerful compensatory mechanisms for a considerable length of time. Hence, future heart failure therapy may be directed towards stimulating the inherent capacity of the heart to compensate for loss of SERCA2 function. Read abstract here... Read editorial here...
Hot Topics: Potentiating effect of inflammation and hyperglycemia in cardiovascular risk prediction
In elderly men with high risk of atherosclerosis, IL-18 was a strong predictor of cardiovascular events after 3 years, but only in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. There was an interaction between elevated fasting glucose and IL-18, and a stepwise increase in the predictive power of IL-18 by quartiles of fasting glucose. Elevated fasting glucose also increased the predictive power of IL-6 and CRP. These findings suggest a potentially synergistic effect of inflammation and hyperglycemia in cardiovascular risk prediction.
Read article here...
Hot Topics: Very early oral glucose tolerance test after an acute STEMI has poor reproducibility and should not be recommended
In an observational cohort study of 224 STEMI patients, the prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation measued by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at three months was 24.9%, reduced from 46.9% when measured in-hospital. The observed reproducibility of the OGTTs performed in-hospital and at follow up was only 54 %. HbA1c, admission plasma glucose and fasting plasma glucose measured in-hospital seem to be useful as early markers of longstanding glucometabolic disturbance. Read more here...
Hot Topics: Chromogranin A is a strong predictor of mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes
Chromogranin A (CgA), a protein produced throughout the neuroendocrine system, provides strong and independent information regarding long-term mortality and heart failure hospitalizations in patients with acute coronary syndromes, indicating a role for CgA in ACS risk stratification.
Hot Topics: LIGHT/PAR-2 synergy - a target for atherogenesis therapy?
The interaction between inflammatory cytokines and endothelial cells is a critical step in atherogenesis leading to endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. LIGHT/PAR-2-driven inflammation could be a pathogenic loop in atherogenesis, potentially representing a target for therapy in this disorder.
Hot Topics: No effect of drug therapy during cardiac arrest
Despite being widely advocated in resuscitation guidelines all over the world, intravenous drugs such as adrenaline/epinephrine, atropine and amiodarone have never been shown to increase long-term survival after cardiac arrest. This is the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of intravenous drug therapy vs. no drug therapy during cardiac arrest. This work received a Best Abstract Award at the Hot Topics Session during the Resuscitation Science Symposium at the AHA Scientific Sessions 2008.
Hot Topics: FX06 - protection from reperfusion injury
FX06, a fibrin-derived peptide, may reduce myocardial necrosis associated with successfully reperfused acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), according to results from the FX06 In Reperfusion (FIRE) trial. The FIRE trial showed only modest trends in favor of FX06, but could suggest possible protection from reperfusion injury.
Watch video... Read escardio report...
Hot Topics: Fractalkine
Inflammatory processes mediated by cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of heart failure. This study in mice identifies altered expression of 14 cytokines never previously associated with heart failure. Most pronounced was the up-regulation of fractalkine (CX3CL1) expression. Enhanced amounts of CX3CL1 were also found in human HF, both systemically and within the myocardium. In vitro experiments suggest that CX3CL1 may be involved in myocardial remodeling and reduction of myocardial contractile function. Read more in J Mol Cell Cardiol
Hot Topics: OPG - a new heart failure marker
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily with pleiotropic effects on bone metabolism, endocrine function and the immune system. Myocardial expression and circulating levels of OPG are increased in heart failure. These studies demonstrate for the first time that (1) OPG levels on admission are predictive of mortality and heart failure development across the spectrum of acute coronary syndromes, and (2) OPG levels are independently and inversely related to left ventricular systolic function in the general population. Read more in J Am Coll Cardiol and Hypertension.
Hot Topics: G protein-coupled receptor kinases
G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRK) are nodal regulators of myocardial G protein-coupled receptors. This study is the first to investigate the cardiovascular phenotype of endogenous cardiac GRK3, one of four expressed myocardial GRKs. Transgenic mice with a cardiac myocyte targeted inhibition of GRK3 display a hypertensive phenotype, intolerance for increased preload pressures and increased alpha-adrenergic receptor responsiveness.
Hot Topics: Rosuvastatins
The first statin trial in heart failure patients does not concur with previous statin trials in non-heart failure patients. This study shows that Rosuvastatin does not reduce the primary outcome or the number of deaths from any cause in older patients with systolic heart failure, but do reduce the number of cardiovascular hospitalizations. Rosuvastatin effectively reduced LDL and CRP and was well tolerated in this fragile patient population.
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