Genome-wide analysis of blood lipid metabolites in over 5000 South Asians reveals biological insights at cardiometabolic disease loci.

Background: Genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors can lead to perturbations in circulating lipid levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, how changes in individual lipid species contribute to disease risk is often unclear. Moreover, little is known about the role of lipids on cardiovascular disease in Pakistan, a population historically underrepresented in cardiovascular studies.

Direct Stenting Versus Balloon Pre-Dilatation In Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Stents are now deployed in almost 95% of all percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Recent advances in balloon and stent technology has improved the technique of direct stent (DS) strategy, i.e.

Causal Assessment of Serum Urate Levels in Cardiometabolic Diseases Through a Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Although epidemiological studies have reported positive associations between circulating urate levels and cardiometabolic diseases, causality remains uncertain.

Objectives: Through a Mendelian randomization approach, we assessed whether serum urate levels are causally relevant in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic stroke, and heart failure (HF).

Methods: This study investigated 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms known to regulate serum urate levels in association with various vascular and nonvascular risk factors to assess pleiotropy.

Peri-procedural outcome of saphenous vein graft intervention.

Background: Patients who develop recurrent myocardial ischemia after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are often referred for percutaneous coronary intervention. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and peri-procedural outcomes in patients with prior CABG referred for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) over a 3 year period.

Methods: Data were collected on patients who underwent coronary interventional procedures following CABG surgery.

Frequency of anaemia and renal insufficiency in patients with heart failure.

Background: Heart Failure (HF) is a common disease with a high mortality rate. Anaemia and renal failure (RF) are often present in patients with HF and associated with worse prognosis. Objective of study was to evaluate the prevalence of anaemia and RF in patients with HF.

Genetic determinants of major blood lipids in Pakistanis compared with Europeans.

Background: Evidence is sparse about the genetic determinants of major lipids in Pakistanis.

Methods And Results: Variants (n=45 000) across 2000 genes were assessed in 3200 Pakistanis and compared with 2450 Germans using the same gene array and similar lipid assays. We also did a meta-analysis of selected lipid-related variants in Europeans.

Association of the 9p21.3 locus with risk of first-ever myocardial infarction in Pakistanis: case-control study in South Asia and updated meta-analysis of Europeans.

Objective: To examine variants at the 9p21 locus in a case-control study of acute myocardial infarction (MI) in Pakistanis and to perform an updated meta-analysis of published studies in people of European ancestry.

Methods And Results: A total of 1851 patients with first-ever confirmed MI and 1903 controls were genotyped for 89 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms at locus 9p21, including the lead variant (rs1333049) identified by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium. Minor allele frequencies and extent of linkage disequilibrium observed in Pakistanis were broadly similar to those seen in Europeans.

Role of 64-slice multi detector computed tomography for non-invasive visualisation of coronary artery bypass grafts for follow up in post CABG patients.

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a commonly performed revascularization procedure in ischemic heart disease patients. Conventional coronary angiography is an invasive method for evaluation of grafts in such patients. Non-invasive evaluation of grafts in post CABG patient has been made possible with the advent of 64-Slice Multi Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) The Objective of the study was to non-invasively assess the graft patency with MDCT.

The Pakistan Risk of Myocardial Infarction Study: a resource for the study of genetic, lifestyle and other determinants of myocardial infarction in South Asia.

The burden of coronary heart disease (CHD) is increasing at a greater rate in South Asia than in any other region globally, but there is little direct evidence about its determinants. The Pakistan Risk of Myocardial Infarction Study (PROMIS) is an epidemiological resource to enable reliable study of genetic, lifestyle and other determinants of CHD in South Asia. By March 2009, PROMIS had recruited over 5,000 cases of first-ever confirmed acute myocardial infarction (MI) and over 5,000 matched controls aged 30-80 years.

Usefulness of ST segment depression limited to the recovery phase of exercise stress test.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of ST segment depression limited to recovery phase of Exercise Tolerance Test (ETT).

Study Design: An observational cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The study was carried out at Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, from March to August 2007 for a period of 6 months.

Metabolic syndrome in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Objective: To determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome in patients with Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD).

Study Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Cardiology Department of Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, from June 2006 to June 2007.

Significance of perfusion defects on dipyridamole thallium cardiac SPECT in patients with left bundle branch block.

Background: Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB) is a known cause of false positive results in myocardial perfusion studies. We aimed at investigation of correlation between degree of severity of perfusion defect on cardiac Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and presence of coronary artery disease on angiography in patients with LBBB.

Study Design: This was an analytical study and was carried out at Department of Nuclear Cardiology and Department of Cardiac Catheterisation of Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore from January 2007 to April 2007.

In-hospital outcome of acute myocardial infarction (st segment elevation type) in diabetics and non-diabetics.

Objective: To evaluate the in-hospital mortality and complications of acute myocardial infarction in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Coronary Care Unit and Cardiology Ward of Nishtar Hospital, Multan from 1st October 2002 till 15th May 2003.