Abstract 4146032: Routine stress testing in diabetic patients after coronary intervention: a systematic review and single arm meta-analysis

Circulation, Volume 150, Issue Suppl_1, Page A4146032-A4146032, November 12, 2024. Background:Stress testing is a well-established non-invasive method commonly used in clinical practice for patients with angina. However, its benefit in diabetic patients after coronary intervention remains unclear. This systematic review aims to address this knowledge gap by evaluating the impact of routine stress testing in this specific patient population.Research Question:Does routine stress testing improve outcomes in diabetic patients with prior revascularization?Goals:We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that evaluated death, MACE and repeated revascularization episodes in diabetic patients who have prior coronary intervention.Methods:We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials (RCT) and cohort studies evaluating diabetic patients who underwent cardiac revascularization and reporting the following outcomes: (1) Myocardial Infarction (MI) and Cardiovascular Death; (2) Ischemia; and (3) Repeat Revascularization. Statistical analysis was performed using Open Meta and heterogeneity was assessed with I2statistical.Results:We included 16924 patients from 16 studies, of which 15 were observational cohort studies and 1 was a RCT. All patients were diabetics and had a history of revascularization. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 5.2 years. The mean patient age was 60.8±9.5 years and 75% were male. MI and cardiovascular death was found in 9.8% (95% CI; range 6.8-12.8%; p

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Novembre 2024

Abstract 4143744: Cross-talk between oxidized LDL, oxidative stress and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: Impact on endothelial function and atherosclerosis

Circulation, Volume 150, Issue Suppl_1, Page A4143744-A4143744, November 12, 2024. Introduction/Background:Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are important risk factors of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Previous studies suggested a crosstalk between an activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) in atherosclerosis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood.Research Question/Hypothesis:Can we identify novel signaling pathways controlling the molecular crosstalk of the RAAS with ROS and oxLDL in endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis?Methods/Approach:The impact of AT1R blockade on oxLDL-induced superoxide anion formation and endothelial dysfunction was studied in human umbilical artery endothelial cells and aortic rings of wild-type mice by chemiluminescence and Mulvany myograph. We cloned 5’-terminal deletions of the AT1R promoter and assessed the luciferase activity in human endothelial cells. Oct-1 binding to the human AT1R promoter region was studied by EMSA. Further assays included real-time PCR, confocal microscopy, Western blotting, G protein reporter assays, phospho-ERK1/2 antibodies and specific siRNAs. The data were validated in heart of obese C57BL/6 mice and cardiac and aortic tissue of AT1a/AT1bdouble knockout micein vivo.Results/Data:AT1R promoter activation studies upon Ang II- and oxLDL-stimulation in endothelial cells revealed that Ang II and oxLDL activate AT1R signaling through G protein Gα12/13, followed by activation of ERK1/2 MAP kinases, and transcription and translation of Oct-1, resulting in up-regulation of AT1R, LOX-1 and NOX2 expression, which could be antagonized by specific inhibitors at each step of the identified signaling cascade. AT1R blockade improved oxLDL-induced endothelial dysfunction in aortic rings of wild-type mice. Male C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet exhibited upregulation of Oct-1 levels in cardiac tissues, compared to normal controls, while AT1a/AT1bdouble knockout mice demonstrated downregulation of Oct-1, AT1R, LOX-1, and NOX2 on mRNA and protein level in cardiac and aorta tissue, thus confirming the identified signaling cascadein vivo.Conclusions:Oct-1 is an essential transcription factor for Ang II- and oxLDL-induced upregulation of AT1R and LOX-1 expression in endothelium, thus identifying a novel molecular cross-talk of oxLDL with ROS signaling and the RAAS contributing to development of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.

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Novembre 2024

Abstract 4146930: Reported Stress Level is Associated with Cardiovascular Health in Young Adults – An Electronic Health Record Study of Nearly 1.4 Million Individuals

Circulation, Volume 150, Issue Suppl_1, Page A4146930-A4146930, November 12, 2024. Background:Young adulthood (19–39 years) is the life stage of greatest declines in cardiovascular health (CVH). It is hypothesized that this decline may be related to competing demands (e.g., stressors) of this period of the lifecourse such as work and child-rearing. The AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 CVH framework identifies the scored domains (behavioral and clinical factors), as needing to be contextualized by the important construct of psychological health (including stress). However, scarce data are available to assess the relationship between CVH and reported stress – especially among YA.Purpose:The current study aims to be the first to use Cosmos electronic health record (EHR) data to assess the relationship between YA CVH and reported stress in a nationally representative, very large sample of YAs.Methods:Cosmos is a platform hosting de-identified Epic EHR data on >250 million patients. We assessed Cosmos data from May 2022 through April 2024 to identify all YAs with reported stress data (5-point scale from “not at all” to “very much”). We then compared trends of each CVH metric across stress categories.Results:1,397,375 individuals 19 – 39 years of age had reported stress data available. The sample was 62% White, 17% Black, 4% Asian, 12% Hispanic, and 63% female. Generally, stress levels were stable across YA age groups (Figure 1). For lifestyle behavior related domains (physical activity (PA), smoking, and BMI), the prevalence of “poor” CVH scores (worst categorization) increased in YA as reported stress amount increased (Figure 2). Prevalence of “poor” scores in clinical metrics (BP, HbA1c, nonHDL-C) were not associated with stress.Conclusion:In a very large sample of YA, greater reported stress was associated worse CVH for the behavioral domains of PA, smoking and BMI. Interventions aimed at reducing stress in YA may have the added benefit of improving CVH.

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Novembre 2024

Abstract 4141934: Psychosocial Stress Subgroups and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Events in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Circulation, Volume 150, Issue Suppl_1, Page A4141934-A4141934, November 12, 2024. Introduction:Heightened psychosocial stress is a CVD risk factor. While stressors are common and often co-occur, identifying sources and patterns of psychosocial stress exposure may provide insight into individual susceptibility to CVD. Therefore, we sought to identify and examine the longitudinal associations of baseline psychosocial stress subgroups with CVD events in MESA.Methods:Data from 6,349 adults (aged: 62.2±10.2 years; 52.9% women) from the MESA cohort with no prior CVD event at baseline (years 2000-2002) were used in this analysis. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to specify distinct stress subgroups based on 6 variables: chronic burden, neighborhood safety, adequate food shopping, neighborhood noise, lifetime- and past-year discrimination. Five classes were determined after examining traditional fit indices. Adjudicated fatal and nonfatal CVD events were ascertained in annual follow-up visits through the year 2019. Cox proportional hazards models with sequential adjustment of baseline variables were used to examine the associations between subgroup membership and CVD events.Results:Five distinct stress subgroups were identified via LCA and were labeled “moderate neighborhood noise” (12.1%), “excessive noise/crime” (6.4%), “elevated on all” (6.3%), “high discrimination/safe neighborhood” (21.4%), “optimal” (53.8%) (see figure). By the year 2019, 1,121 participants had experienced a CVD event. Membership in the “elevated on all” and “high discrimination/safe neighborhood” subgroups (see table) were associated with higher risk of a CVD event when adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and cardiovascular health metrics. However, when adjusted for measures of anxiety and depression, possible mediators, only membership in the “high discrimination/safe neighborhood” subgroup was associated with increased risk of a CVD event.Conclusions:Among 5 distinct stress subgroups those experiencing high discrimination had higher risk for CVD events.

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Novembre 2024

Abstract 4138517: Role of Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography in Patients with Discordant Findings on Exercise Stress Echocardiography

Circulation, Volume 150, Issue Suppl_1, Page A4138517-A4138517, November 12, 2024. Background:Exercise stress echocardiography is routinely used for risk stratification and diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in low-to-intermediate risk patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Discrepancies between exercise electrocardiography (EKG) and echocardiography (ECHO) are common in clinical practice. Prior literature suggests that patients with discordant stress test results generally have worse outcomes, though the extent of epicardial atherosclerotic disease remains unclear. Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has gained a class I recommendation for the assessment of atherosclerotic burden per ACC/AHA chest pain guidelines. Using non-invasive fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR), the functional significance of lesions can also be assessed. This study investigates the incidence and burden of CAD in patients with discordant exercise echocardiography findings.Methods:Patients aged 18 or older who had exercise echocardiography followed by CTA from January 1, 2013, to January 31, 2023, were retrospectively enrolled in this study and categorized into two discordant result groups: EKG+/ECHO- or EKG-/ECHO+. Those who failed to achieve the target heart rate or had a paced rhythm/left bundle branch block on baseline EKG were excluded. CTA findings were classified as no CAD, non-obstructive CAD (

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Novembre 2024

Abstract 4143847: CRISPR screening identifies critical factors regulating DNA damage response in human cardiomyocytes under oxidative stress

Circulation, Volume 150, Issue Suppl_1, Page A4143847-A4143847, November 12, 2024. Introduction:Our previous studies have shown that sustained activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) in cardiomyocytes leads to p53/p21 activation and cardiac dysfunction. Although the DDR generally involves molecules in DNA replication and repair pathways, the non-proliferative nature of cardiomyocytes suggests a cardio-specific DDR mechanism. However, our understanding of DDR in cardiomyocytes remains limited. Here, we aim to use CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) knockdown screens to identify genes critically involved in DDR regulation in human cardiomyocytes. We hypothesize that identifying these gene clusters may allow us to develop methods to prevent cardiac dysfunction by suppressing DDR in cardiomyocytes.Methods and Results:We established a human iPS cell line stably expressing dCas9-KRAB, which allows CRISPRi-mediated gene knockdown, and differentiated the cells into cardiomyocytes. The resulting human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSCMs) showed the achievement of approximately 80% knockdown efficiency after gRNA transfection. We stimulated the hiPSCMs with H2O2and quantitatively evaluated the expression levels of the DDR markers γH2AX and p21 by immunostaining using the Operetta®high content imaging system. The DDR markers showed a significant concentration-dependent increase in response to H2O2administration. For arrayed CRISPRi screening, we constructed a gRNA library targeting 437 DDR-related genes. Using this library, we knocked down each DDR-related gene in hiPSCMs followed by H2O2stimulation. We quantified the expression levels of DDR markers by calculating the fluorescence intensity ratios relative to control after gene knockdown, and standardized them to calculate Z scores for all 437 genes. The screening successfully revealed the differential impact of each gene knockdown on γH2AX and p21 expression. We identified 71 genes that significantly affected their expression (Z-score < -1 or > 1). Mapping these genes to DDR pathways highlighted the differential impact of gene knockdown within the same pathway, and stratified their importance in cardiomyocytes.Conclusions:Arrayed CRISPR screening using hiPSCMs revealed differential functional significance of DDR-related genes in cardiomyocytes, identifying 71 genes of particularly significant importance. These findings provide a critical understanding of the cardio-specific DDR pathway and important clues for establishing an appropriate method to suppress DDR in the failing heart.

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Novembre 2024

Abstract 4139600: Characteristics and Pattern of Stress Cardiomyopathy in High Grade Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Circulation, Volume 150, Issue Suppl_1, Page A4139600-A4139600, November 12, 2024. Background:Cardiac injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a well-recognized phenomenon with electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, arrhythmias and myocardial dysfunction. Neurocardiac injury has been commonly reported with increased severity of SAH, however much of the evidence has focused on high grade SAH requiring hemodynamic support or mechanical ventilation. In this study we focused on neurocardiac injury with high grade World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) grade 3-5 SAH requiring intensive care management.Methods:Patients admitted to our intensive care unit from 2009-2019 with an WFNS 3-5 aneurysmal SAH with an echocardiogram within 7 days of admission were included in our study. Electrocardiogram, cardiac biomarkers and data regarding mortality and neurological complications were collected retrospectively.Results:A total of 242 patients were included in our study analysis with 11 (5%), 89 (37%), and 142 (59%) had WFNS grade 3, 4 or 5 SAH, respectively. Of the 95 patients that underwent echocardiography in the first week, 38 (40%) had a reduced ejection fraction, which was mild (LVEF 40-52%) in 13 (14%), moderate (LVEF 30-39%) in 14 (15%), and severe (LVEF < 30%) in 11 (12%). Independent predictors of reduced ejection fraction included a lower presenting GCS score (OR 1.2 per one point reduction in (Glasgow Coma Score) GCS, 95% CI 1.0-1.5, p = 0.03), elevated troponin T concentration (OR 6.1, 95% CI 1.2-31.3, p = 0.03) and T wave inversion on ECG (OR 9.1, 95% CI 1.6-52.3, p = 0.01). In patients with reduced ejection fraction, classical apical wall motion abnormality was more prevalent in older populations (median age 64 years (apical) vs 50 years (basal wall motion abnormality) and 52 years (other) p = 0.03). In all wall motion abnormality groups, there was a female predominance. Classic Takotsubo wall motion was associated with an anterior SAH aneurysm location (p = 0.03) and highest proportion of moderate to severe LV dysfunction (p = 0.04). ICU mortality did not differ based on the pattern of wall motion abnormalities.Conclusion:Predictors of neurocardiac injury in high grade SAH include troponin elevation, T wave abnormalities and lower presenting GCS. Aneurysm location was associated with wall motion abnormalities and degree of LV dysfunction. Patients with WFNS 3-5 SAH are at increased risk of neurocardiac injury. ECG changes, cardiac biomarker elevation and aneurysm location can help identify patients who warrant echocardiography.

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Novembre 2024

Abstract 4125939: Bayesian re-analysis of the STeroids to REduce Systemic inflammation after infant heart Surgery (STRESS) trial

Circulation, Volume 150, Issue Suppl_1, Page A4125939-A4125939, November 12, 2024. Background:Prophylactic steroids are often used to reduce the systemic inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass in infants undergoing heart surgery. The STRESS trial found that the likelihood of a worse outcome did not differ between infants randomized to methylprednisolone vs placebo in a risk-adjusted primary analysis (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.71 to 1.05; P=0.14). However, secondary unadjusted analyses showed possible benefits with methylprednisolone. We re-analyzed the STRESS trial using Bayesian analytics to assess probability of benefit with methylprednisolone.Methods:We used a covariate-adjusted proportional odds model using the original STRESS trial model covariates and primary outcome (a ranked composite of death, transplant, major complications and post-op length of stay). We assessed effect thresholds from OR 0.6 to 1.25 (OR 1 conveys harm). We assumed a neutral probability of benefit vs harm with weak prior belief (SD of the normal prior distribution = 0.425). In sensitivity analyses, we evaluated pessimistic (5%-30% prior likelihood of benefit), neutral and optimistic (70%-95% prior likelihood of benefit) prior beliefs, and controlled strength of prior belief as weak (SD = 0.425), moderate (SD = 0.215) and strong (SD = 0.135). We compared posterior distribution of the OR under these priors with the reference results under the vague prior distribution. Analyses consisted of 10 Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations each consisting of 2000 iterations with a 1000 iteration burn-in to ensure proper posterior convergence.Results:In primary analysis, the posterior probability of benefit from methylprednisolone was 92% and the probability of harm was 8%. The mean absolute benefit was 12%. In sensitivity analyses, the probability of benefit was ≥ 79% for all informative priors except the most pessimistic (Table/Figure).Conclusion:In Bayesian re-analysis of the STRESS trial, probability of benefit with prophylactic methylprednisolone is high and harm is unlikely. Assessing probability of benefit or harm may be more informative than frequentist analytics relying on a p-value threshold. Another advantage is the ability to consider a range of prior evidence.

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Novembre 2024

Abstract 4141274: Impact of Oxidative Stress on Aortic Vulnerable Plaques Detected by Non-obstructive General Angioscopy

Circulation, Volume 150, Issue Suppl_1, Page A4141274-A4141274, November 12, 2024. Background:Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of cardiovascular death. Oxidative stress is related to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. However, how oxidative stress affects the progression of atherosclerosis in vivo has not yet been fully investigated. Non-obstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) can meticulously visualize directly aortic atherosclerosis in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between oxidative stress and NOGA-derived aortic plaques.Methods:We investigated 120 consecutive cases with coronary artery disease evaluated for the aorta by NOGA between July 2021 and February 2024. Atherosclerotic lesions of the aorta were screened using NOGA immediately after coronary arteriography. NOGA examination evaluated the counts of ruptured plaques, chandelier signs, intense yellow plaques, and red thrombi in the aorta. Regarding the number of each plaque, we assessed the proportion of aortic findings detected by NOGA at each vertebral level. Derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) levels as indices of reactive oxygen species production were evaluated.Results:The mean age was 66 years, and the median d-ROM value was 289 U.CARR [interquartile range: 251-339]. The d-ROM value was significantly correlated with the proportion of ruptured plaques (r=0.28, p=0.015), but not correlated with the other plaque characteristics. In a multiple linear regression analysis for the proportion of ruptured plaques in the aorta, d-ROMs were one of the independent factors adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (β=0.14, p=0.004).Conclusion:The value of d-ROMs was related to the proportion of ruptured plaques in the aorta, but not to the proportion of the other plaque characteristics. Oxidative stress may help to elucidate the mechanism for the progression of aortic atherosclerosis.

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Novembre 2024

[Articles] The effect of prescription and over-the-counter medications on core temperature in adults during heat stress: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Current evidence supports strong anticholinergics, non-selective beta-blockers, adrenaline, and anti-Parkinson’s agents impairing thermoregulation during heat stress. No evidence indicated thermoregulation is impacted by other WHO-listed medications. Evidence is predominantly limited to healthy young men, with short heat stress exposures. Studies over longer durations, in women, older adults and those with chronic diseases are required to better inform the pharmaceutical management of patients during hot weather.

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Ottobre 2024

Association between sleep quality and uncertainty stress among healthcare professionals in hospitals in China: a nationwide cross-sectional survey

Objectives
Sleep quality is a critical concern among healthcare professionals, yet the role of uncertainty stress has been inadequately explored. This study aims to explore the associations between sleep quality and uncertainty stress among healthcare professionals working in Chinese hospitals.

Design
Cross-sectional survey.

Setting
Data were collected via a cross-sectional survey administered to healthcare professionals across three Chinese provinces from 29 September 2022 to 18 January 2023.

Participants
A total of 1902 participants contributed valid responses for analysis.

Primary outcome measure
Sleep quality.

Results
Out of 1902 respondents, 26.4% reported uncertainty stress and 50.5% experienced insomnia. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that higher uncertainty stress significantly predicted poor sleep quality (OR=3.89; 95% CI 3.06, 4.95; p

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Ottobre 2024