Osteopontin as a Biomarker for Coronary Artery Disease.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a sialylated phosphoprotein highly expressed in atherosclerosis and upregulated in settings of both acute and chronic inflammation. It is hypothesised that plasma levels of OPN may correlate with the presence of coronary artery disease, "CAD". This offers potential as a point-of-care testing biomarker for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and prognosis.

Improving quality and reducing inequality in heart failure.

The popular annual autumn meeting of the British Society for Heart Failure (BSH) boasted a line-up of internationally recognised authorities in heart failure. Held in London on 28-29 November 2019, the meeting's focus was on improving quality and reducing inequality. Drs Sanjay S Bhandari and Daniel CS Chan report its highlights.

Recurrent valve obstruction in a patient with a pure carbon bileaflet metallic mitral valve: a case report.

Background: Despite overcoming the morbidity from severe native valve disease, prosthetic metallic valve replacement is not without its inherent morbidity, in particular from prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT). The contemporary pure carbon bileaflet metallic valve confers reduced thrombogenicity.

Case Summary: We describe the case of a 45-year-old woman with a pure carbon bileaflet metallic mitral valve replacement (27/29 mm On-X) 6 months previously for severe rheumatic mitral stenosis, who presented with a rapid onset of dyspnoea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea, and haemoptysis.

Mesalazine induced myopericarditis in a patient with ulcerative colitis.

A 25-year-old male with a background of ulcerative colitis presented with a two-week history of central chest pain. His ECG on presentation showed global T wave inversion with a peak troponin I of 165 ng/ml. Clinical diagnosis of myopericarditis/myocarditis was made.

An uncommon manifestation of shock: Takotsubo syndrome.

Unlabelled: 76-year-old female presented following an episode of collapse. She was hypotensive with the paramedics and remained refractory despite fluid resuscitation. Her initial baseline tests revealed an elevated troponin; she subsequently underwent a coronary angiogram that showed mild coronary artery disease.

Critical aortic stenosis presenting as STEMI.

Unlabelled: A 73-year-old male was brought into hospital with chest pain and inferior ST elevation on ECG. The patient immediately proceeded to the catheter lab for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Angiography did not identify any culprit lesions to account for the patient's electrocardiographic changes and ongoing symptoms of chest pain.

Trimethylamine N-oxide and prognosis in acute heart failure.

Objective: Acute heart failure (AHF) is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut-derived metabolite, has reported association with mortality risk in chronic HF but this association in AHF is still unknown. The present study investigated TMAO in patients admitted to hospital with AHF, and association of circulating levels with prognosis.

Plasma growth hormone is a strong predictor of risk at 1 year in acute heart failure.

Aims: We sought to compare the prognostic utility of growth hormone (GH) with NT-proBNP) and the ADHERE score in a large cohort of acute heart failure (HF) patients, subcategorized into HF with reduced EF <50% (HFrEF) and preserved EF ≥50% (HFpEF).

Methods And Results: GH and NTproBNP levels were measured in 537 patients (HFrEF n = 415; HFpEF n = 122) with acute HF recruited into this prospective cohort study. The main outcome measure was death or HF readmission at 1 year.

Growth hormone for risk stratification and effects of therapy in acute myocardial infarction.

Context: Excess growth hormone (GH) is associated with early mortality.

Objectives: We assessed the association of GH with prognosis after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and the effects of secondary prevention therapies.

Methods: GH was measured using a high-sensitivity assay in 953 AMI patients (687 males, mean age 66.

Influence of confounding factors on plasma mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin and mid-regional pro-A-type natriuretic peptide concentrations in healthy individuals.

Background: MRproADM and MRproANP can be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers in heart failure.

Aim: The objective was to identify confounding factors for the interpretation of plasma MRproADM and MRproANP concentrations.

Methods: A total of 518 healthy volunteers with a mean age of 60.

The midregional portion of proadrenomedullin is an independent predictor of left ventricular mass index in hypertension.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Elevated natriuretic peptides in LVH have spurred interest that biomarkers may play a role in screening programs. Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a 52-amino acid peptide mediating vasorelaxation, natriuresis, and diuresis.

Gender and renal function influence plasma levels of copeptin in healthy individuals.

The present study sought to identify confounding factors for the interpretation of copeptin levels in healthy individuals. The natriuretic peptides are recognized as diagnostic and prognostic tools in HF (heart failure). Interpretation of BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) and NTproBNP (N-terminal pro-BNP) levels is multifaceted as their secretion is influenced by many variables.

Urotensin II is raised in acute myocardial infarction and low levels predict risk of adverse clinical outcome in humans.

Background: UII is elevated in patients with heart failure; however its role in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unknown. We sought to compare levels of UII in patients with AMI to controls. We also compared UII to N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-BNP) to evaluate whether levels of UII can be used to predict the risk of adverse clinical outcome (ACO).