International journal of cardiology
-
Observational Study
Pre-operative growth differentiation factor 15 as a novel biomarker of acute kidney injury after cardiac bypass surgery.
Pre-operative GDF-15 plasma levels significantly improve the prognostic value of the EuroSCORE for mortality after cardiac surgery. However, despite the strong correlation between GDF-15 and renal function, no data are available regarding the potential interest of pre-operative GDF-15 levels to improve the prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. ⋯ Pre-operative GDF-15 plasma levels are associated with post-operative AKI in CABG patients. If confirmed in larger cohorts, pre-operative GDF-15 may be of value to improve pre-operative risk stratification among candidates for surgery.
-
To describe the natural history of common heart disease incidence on a population study. ⋯ This is the first investigation to report heart disease incidence and its natural history in a quasi-extinction cohort data from Italy in a pre-cardiac surgery era.
-
Adipokines released by adipose tissue have been recognised as important players in the development of cardiovascular disease. Leptin is a well-studied adipokine with an important role in body metabolism and energy expenditure and leptin-deficiency or deficient leptin signalling results in excessive obesity and type 2 diabetes. ⋯ Notably, clinical studies have failed to convincingly link leptin with increased cardiovascular disease risk. We herein summarise the role of leptin in cardiovascular disease as another example of the 'adipokine paradox' and discuss the complexity in using serum adipokine levels as biomarkers in cardiovascular disease.
-
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with cognitive decline and may contribute to an increased risk of dementia. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether statin use prevented non-vascular dementia in subjects with AF. ⋯ In this large-scale nationwide cohort study, statin use was associated with a lower risk of non-vascular dementia in AF. Use of more potent statin and longer exposure time may be associated with greater benefits.