Predicting new-onset HF in patients undergoing coronary or peripheral angiography: results from the Catheter Sampled Blood Archive in Cardiovascular Diseases (CASABLANCA) study.

Aims: Methods to identify patients at risk for incident HF would be welcome as such patients might benefit from earlier interventions.

Methods And Results: From a registry of 1251 patients referred for coronary and/or peripheral angiography, we sought to identify independent predictors of incident HF during follow-up and develop a clinical and biomarker strategy to predict this outcome. There were 991 patients free of prevalent HF at baseline.

Usefulness of Multiple Biomarkers for Predicting Incident Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients Who Underwent Diagnostic Coronary Angiography (from the Catheter Sampled Blood Archive in Cardiovascular Diseases [CASABLANCA] Study).

We sought to develop a multiple biomarker approach for prediction of incident major adverse cardiac events (MACE; composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke) in patients referred for coronary angiography. In a 649-participant training cohort, predictors of MACE within 1 year were identified using least-angle regression; over 50 clinical variables and 109 biomarkers were analyzed. Predictive models were generated using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator with logistic regression.

Systematic Evaluation of Endothelin 1 Measurement Relative to Traditional and Modern Biomarkers for Clinical Assessment and Prognosis in Patients With Chronic Systolic Heart Failure: Serial Measurement and Multimarker Testing.

Objectives: To define the role of single or serial measurement of endothelin 1 (ET-1) for prognostication beyond traditional and modern markers of risk in heart failure (HF).

Methods: In total, 115 patients with chronic systolic HF were followed for 10 months. Clinical assessment and ET-1, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), highly sensitive troponin I (hsTnI), soluble ST2 (sST2), and galectin 3 were measured at each visit.

Soluble oligomeric amyloid-β induces calcium dyshomeostasis that precedes synapse loss in the living mouse brain.

Background: Amyloid-β oligomers (oAβ) are thought to mediate neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and previous studies in AD transgenic mice suggest that calcium dysregulation may contribute to these pathological effects. Even though AD mouse models remain a valuable resource to investigate amyloid neurotoxicity, the concomitant presence of soluble Aβ species, fibrillar Aβ, and fragments of amyloid precursor protein (APP) complicate the interpretation of the phenotypes.

Method: To explore the specific contribution of soluble oligomeric Aβ (oAβ) to calcium dyshomeostasis and synaptic morphological changes, we acutely exposed the healthy mouse brain, at 3 to 6 months of age, to naturally occurring soluble oligomers and investigated their effect on calcium levels using in vivo multiphoton imaging.

A Clinical and Biomarker Scoring System to Predict the Presence of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Noninvasive models to predict the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) may help reduce the societal burden of CAD.

Objectives: From a prospective registry of patients referred for coronary angiography, the goal of this study was to develop a clinical and biomarker score to predict the presence of significant CAD.

Methods: In a training cohort of 649 subjects, predictors of ≥70% stenosis in at least 1 major coronary vessel were identified from >200 candidate variables, including 109 biomarkers.

Incident Type 2 Myocardial Infarction in a Cohort of Patients Undergoing Coronary or Peripheral Arterial Angiography.

Background: Despite growing recognition of type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI; related to supply/demand mismatch), little is known about its risk factors or its association with outcome.

Methods: A single-center cohort of patients undergoing coronary or peripheral angiography with or without intervention was prospectively enrolled and followed for incident type 1 and T2MI, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction [MI], heart failure, stroke, transient ischemic attack, peripheral arterial complication, and cardiac arrhythmia), as well. T2MI was adjudicated using criteria from the Third Universal Definition of MI.

The effects of optimism and gratitude on adherence, functioning and mental health following an acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: This study examined the effects of optimism and gratitude on self-reported health behavior adherence, physical functioning and emotional well-being after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: Among 156 patients, we examined associations between optimism and gratitude measured 2 weeks post-ACS and 6-month outcomes: adherence to medical recommendations, mental and physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical functioning, depressive symptoms and anxiety. Multivariable linear regression models were used, controlling for increasing levels of adjustment.

Associations Between Psychological Constructs and Cardiac Biomarkers After Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Objective: Psychological constructs are associated with cardiovascular health, but the biological mechanisms mediating these relationships are unknown. We examined relationships between psychological constructs and markers of inflammation, endothelial function, and myocardial strain in a cohort of post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

Methods: Participants (N = 164) attended study visits 2 weeks and 6 months after ACS.

Serial Echocardiographic Characteristics, Novel Biomarkers and Cachexia Development in Patients with Stable Chronic Heart Failure.

Little is known regarding objective predictors of cachexia affecting patients with heart failure (HF). We studied 108 stable chronic systolic HF patients with serial echocardiography and biomarker measurements over 10 months. Cachexia was defined as weight loss ≥5 % from baseline or final BMI <20 kg/m; 18.

Effects of Optimism and Gratitude on Physical Activity, Biomarkers, and Readmissions After an Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Gratitude Research in Acute Coronary Events Study.

Background: Positive psychological constructs, such as optimism, are associated with beneficial health outcomes. However, no study has separately examined the effects of multiple positive psychological constructs on behavioral, biological, and clinical outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Accordingly, we aimed to investigate associations of baseline optimism and gratitude with subsequent physical activity, prognostic biomarkers, and cardiac rehospitalizations in post-ACS patients.

Design and baseline data from the Gratitude Research in Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) study.

Background: Positive psychological constructs, especially optimism, have been linked with superior cardiovascular health. However, there has been minimal study of positive constructs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), despite the prevalence and importance of this condition. Furthermore, few studies have examined multiple positive psychological constructs and multiple cardiac-related outcomes within the same cohort to determine specifically which positive construct may affect a particular cardiac outcome.

Abnormal synaptic Ca(2+) homeostasis and morphology in cortical neurons of familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 mutant mice.

Objective: Migraine is among the most common and debilitating neurological conditions. Familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1), a monogenic migraine subtype, is caused by gain-of-function of voltage-gated CaV 2.1 calcium channels.

Analysis of BAG3 plasma concentrations in patients with acutely decompensated heart failure.

Background: BCL-2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) is a protein implicated in the cardiomyocyte stress response and genesis of cardiomyopathy. Extracellular BAG3 is measurable in patients with heart failure (HF), but the relationship of BAG3 with HF prognosis is unclear.

Methods: BAG3 plasma concentrations were measured in 39 acutely decompensated HF patients; the primary endpoint was death at 1 year.

Galectin-3 and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist use in patients with chronic heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Background: Galectin-3 is a prognostic heart failure biomarker associated with aldosterone-induced myocardial fibrosis; mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) may reduce such fibrosis. We sought to examine outcomes of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) as a function of galectin-3 and MRA therapy.

Methods: A total of 151 patients with chronic HFrEF were categorized by baseline galectin-3 and subsequent MRA therapy trends with regard to cardiovascular (CV) events, left ventricular remodeling, safety, and quality of life, over a mean of 10 months.

Characterization and prediction of adverse events from intensive chronic heart failure management and effect on quality of life: results from the pro-B-type natriuretic peptide outpatient-tailored chronic heart failure therapy (PROTECT) study.

Background: Serious adverse events (SAEs) from heart failure (HF) therapy are frequent; however, techniques to identify at-risk patients are inadequate. Furthermore, the relationship between SAEs, quality of life (QOL), and cardiac structure are unknown.

Methods And Results: 151 symptomatic patients with systolic HF were followed for a mean of 10 months.

Prognostic usefulness of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a novel biomarker of myocardial diastolic function?

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) is a biomarker that has recently been associated with heart failure and cardiac hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to examine IGFBP7 relative to echocardiographic abnormalities reflecting diastolic dysfunction. One hundred twenty-four patients with ambulatory heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and baseline detailed 2-dimensional echocardiograms were followed for a mean of 10 months.

Reference interval evaluation of high-sensitivity troponin T and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide in Vietnam and the US: The North South East West Trial.

Background: Reference intervals of high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) have been determined from Western populations. No data are available regarding expected values in Asian populations.

Methods: A total of 1157 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (mean age, 41.