Risk of sudden cardiac death associated with QRS, QTc, and JTc intervals in the general population.

Background: QRS duration and corrected QT (QTc) interval have been associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD), but no data are available on the significance of repolarization component (JTc interval) of the QTc interval as an independent risk marker in the general population.

Objective: In this study, we sought to quantify the risk of SCD associated with QRS, QTc, and JTc intervals.

Methods: This study was conducted using data from 3 population cohorts from different eras, comprising a total of 20,058 individuals.

Levosimendan Efficacy and Safety: 20 years of SIMDAX in Clinical Use.

Levosimendan was first approved for clinic use in 2000, when authorisation was granted by Swedish regulatory authorities for the haemodynamic stabilisation of patients with acutely decompensated chronic heart failure. In the ensuing 20 years, this distinctive inodilator, which enhances cardiac contractility through calcium sensitisation and promotes vasodilatation through the opening of adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channels on vascular smooth muscle cells, has been approved in more than 60 jurisdictions, including most of the countries of the European Union and Latin America. Areas of clinical application have expanded considerably and now include cardiogenic shock, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, advanced heart failure, right ventricular failure and pulmonary hypertension, cardiac surgery, critical care and emergency medicine.

Levosimendan Efficacy and Safety: 20 Years of SIMDAX in Clinical Use.

Levosimendan was first approved for clinical use in 2000, when authorization was granted by Swedish regulatory authorities for the hemodynamic stabilization of patients with acutely decompensated chronic heart failure (HF). In the ensuing 20 years, this distinctive inodilator, which enhances cardiac contractility through calcium sensitization and promotes vasodilatation through the opening of adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channels on vascular smooth muscle cells, has been approved in more than 60 jurisdictions, including most of the countries of the European Union and Latin America. Areas of clinical application have expanded considerably and now include cardiogenic shock, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, advanced HF, right ventricular failure, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac surgery, critical care, and emergency medicine.

Prognostic impact of angiographic findings, procedural success, and timing of percutaneous coronary intervention in cardiogenic shock.

Aims: Urgent revascularization is the mainstay of treatment in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) related cardiogenic shock (CS). The aim was to investigate the association of angiographic results with 90-day mortality. Procedural complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were also examined.

Poor adherence to beta-blockers is associated with increased long-term mortality even beyond the first year after an acute coronary syndrome event.

: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients are widely treated with long-term beta-blocker therapy after cardiac event. Especially for low-risk patients, the benefits of beta-blockers on survival and the optimal therapy duration remain unclear. We investigated the effect of adherence to beta-blockers on long-term survival of ACS patients.

Genetic basis and outcome in a nationwide study of Finnish patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Nationwide large-scale genetic and outcome studies in cohorts with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have not been previously published.

Methods And Results: We sequenced 59 cardiomyopathy-associated genes in 382 unrelated Finnish patients with HCM and found 24 pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutations in six genes in 38.2% of patients.

Edoxaban and implantable cardiac device interventions: insights from the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 trial.

Aims: Pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, and cardiac resynchronization therapy device implantations and generator changes are frequently performed in patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants. In an exploratory analysis, we investigated the outcome of patients undergoing such device procedures in the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 trial.

Methods And Results: During the trial, 1217 device procedures were performed in 1145 patients, with intervention dates available for 1203 procedures.

Smoking confounds the periodontal diagnostics using saliva biomarkers.

Background: Smoking is a risk factor for periodontal disease because of its complex impact on the inflammatory response in the periodontium. We investigated the effect of smoking on salivary periodontal biomarkers, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and myeloperoxidase (MPO).

Methods: Saliva biomarkers were analyzed in the Parogene population (n = 480) comprising a random cohort of patients that have undergone coronary angiography and oral examination.

ECG left ventricular hypertrophy as a risk predictor of sudden cardiac death.

Background: Electrocardiographic (ECG) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular events. However, limited data is available on the prognostic values of different ECG LVH criteria specifically to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Our goal was to assess relationships of different ECG LVH criteria to SCD.

Characterization of different fat depots in NAFLD using inflammation-associated proteome, lipidome and metabolome.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized as a liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome, accompanied with excessive fat accumulation in the liver and other vital organs. Ectopic fat accumulation was previously associated with negative effects at the systemic and local level in the human body. Thus, we aimed to identify and assess the predictive capability of novel potential metabolic biomarkers for ectopic fat depots in non-diabetic men with NAFLD, using the inflammation-associated proteome, lipidome and metabolome.

Prognostic impact of baseline and residual SYNTAX scores in cardiogenic shock.

Objectives: The aim was to assess the extent of coronary artery disease and revascularization using baseline SYNTAX Score (bSS) and residual SYNTAX Score (rSS) in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) secondary to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The prognostic impact of SYNTAX Score (SS) was evaluated and assessed for additive value over clinical risk scores.

Background: bSS and rSS have been proven to be useful in risk stratification in stable coronary artery disease as well as in acute coronary syndromes, but they have not been studied in STEMI related CS.

Salivary biomarkers in association with periodontal parameters and the periodontitis risk haplotype.

Genetic factors play a role in periodontitis. Here we examined whether the risk haplotype of MHC class III region BAT1-NFKBIL1-LTA and lymphotoxin-α polymorphisms associate with salivary biomarkers of periodontal disease. A total of 455 individuals with detailed clinical and radiographic periodontal health data were included in the study.

Susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein particles to aggregate depends on particle lipidome, is modifiable, and associates with future cardiovascular deaths.

Aims: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) through their retention, modification, and accumulation within the arterial intima. High plasma concentrations of LDL drive this disease, but LDL quality may also contribute. Here, we focused on the intrinsic propensity of LDL to aggregate upon modification.

Saliva and serum biomarkers in periodontitis and coronary artery disease.

Aim: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and myeloperoxidase (MPO) participate in extracellular matrix breakdown both in periodontium and atherosclerotic plaques. We investigated the diagnostic value of serum and saliva biomarkers in periodontitis and acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Materials And Methods: The population was PAROGENE (n = 481), a random cohort of patients with an indication for coronary angiography.

Predictive value of the baseline electrocardiogram ST-segment pattern in cardiogenic shock: Results from the CardShock Study.

Background: The most common aetiology of cardiogenic shock (CS) is acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but even up to 20%-50% of CS is caused by other disorders. ST-segment deviations in the electrocardiogram (ECG) have been investigated in patients with ACS-related CS, but not in those with other CS aetiologies. We set out to explore the prevalence of different ST-segment patterns and their associations with the CS aetiology, clinical findings and 90-day mortality.

Comprehensive in-hospital monitoring in acute heart failure: applications for clinical practice and future directions for research. A statement from the Acute Heart Failure Committee of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

This paper provides a practical clinical application of guideline recommendations relating to the inpatient monitoring of patients with acute heart failure, through the evaluation of various clinical, biomarker, imaging, invasive and non-invasive approaches. Comprehensive inpatient monitoring is crucial to the optimal management of acute heart failure patients. The European Society of Cardiology heart failure guidelines provide recommendations for the inpatient monitoring of acute heart failure, but the level of evidence underpinning most recommendations is limited.

Electrocardiographic predictors of atrial fibrillation in nonhypertensive and hypertensive individuals.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the predictive value of ECG abnormalities for atrial fibrillation in nonhypertensive versus hypertensive individuals.

Methods: We recorded ECG and measured conventional cardiovascular risk factors in a nationwide population-based sample of 5813 Finns. We divided the participants into nonhypertensive (n = 3148) and hypertensive (n = 2665) individuals and followed the participants for incident atrial fibrillation events.

Relation of Use of Red Blood Cell Transfusion After Acute Coronary Syndrome to Long-Term Mortality.

Registry studies have associated red blood cell (RBC) transfusion with increased in-hospital mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The impact on long-term mortality after 1-year follow-up remains unknown. Consecutive patients with ACS (n = 2,009) of a prospective Genetic Predisposition of Coronary Artery Disease cohort were followed for a median of 8.

Repolarization Heterogeneity Measured With T-Wave Area Dispersion in Standard 12-Lead ECG Predicts Sudden Cardiac Death in General Population.

Background: We developed a novel electrocardiographic marker, T-wave area dispersion (TW-Ad), which measures repolarization heterogeneity by assessing interlead T-wave areas during a single cardiac cycle and tested whether it can identify patients at risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the general population.

Methods And Results: TW-Ad was measured from standard digital 12-lead ECG in 5618 adults (46% men; age, 50.9±12.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans serotypes associate with periodontal and coronary artery disease status.

Aim: We investigated the association between the Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans serotypes, periodontal status and coronary artery disease (CAD).

Materials And Methods: The study population included 497 patients who underwent coronary angiography, and clinical oral examination. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays were designed to identify the serotypes from saliva samples.

The potential of the inodilator levosimendan in maintaining quality of life in advanced heart failure.

Maintaining adequate quality of life (QoL) is an important therapeutic objective for patients with advanced heart failure and, for some patients, may take precedence over prolonging life. Achieving good QoL in this context may involve aspects of patient care that lie outside the familiar limits of heart failure treatment. The inodilator levosimendan may be advantageous in this setting, not least because of its sustained duration of action, ascribed to a long-acting metabolite designated OR-1896.

Immunologic burden links periodontitis to acute coronary syndrome.

Background And Aims: Periodontitis, a common polymicrobial inflammatory disease in the tooth supporting tissues, is a risk factor for coronary artery disease. One of the proposed underlying mechanisms is the systemic immune response to periodontal infection. We studied how serum antibodies against seven periodontal pathogens and their subgingival levels associate with each other, periodontitis, and coronary artery disease.

Genetic Variants Contributing to Circulating Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 Levels and Their Association With Cardiovascular Diseases: A Genome-Wide Analysis.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) is a proinflammatory enzyme expressed mainly by neutrophils. Elevated serum and plasma concentrations of MMP-8 are associated with the risk for and outcome of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The origin of circulating MMP-8 is not completely clear.

CNV-association meta-analysis in 191,161 European adults reveals new loci associated with anthropometric traits.

There are few examples of robust associations between rare copy number variants (CNVs) and complex continuous human traits. Here we present a large-scale CNV association meta-analysis on anthropometric traits in up to 191,161 adult samples from 26 cohorts. The study reveals five CNV associations at 1q21.

Incidence rates, correlates, and prognosis of electrocardiographic P-wave abnormalities - a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Scant data exist on incidence rates, correlates, and prognosis of electrocardiographic P-wave abnormalities in the general population.

Methods: We recorded ECG and measured conventional cardiovascular risk factors in 5667 Finns who were followed up for incident atrial fibrillation (AF). We obtained repeat ECGs from 3089 individuals 11years later.