Abstract Background: Ischemia with the non-obstructive coronary artery (INOCA) is an ischemic heart disease that mostly includes coronary microvascular dysfunction and/or epicardial coronary vasospasm due to underlying coronary vascular dysfunction and can be seen more commonly in female patients. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII, platelet × neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio) is a new marker that predicts adverse clinical outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD). Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between INOCA and SII, a new marker associated with inflammation. […]

Abstract Background ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is one of the leading causes of fatal cardiovascular diseases, which have been the prime cause of mortality worldwide. Diagnosis in the early phase would benefit clinical intervention and prognosis, but the exploration of the biomarkers of STEMI is still lacking. Objectives In this study, we conducted a bioinformatics analysis to identify potential crucial biomarkers in the progress of STEMI. Methods We obtained GSE59867 for STEMI and stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) patients. […]

Abstract Background The association between exaggerated systolic blood pressure response to exercise (ESBPRE) and myocardial ischemia is controversial and little studied in patients with established or suspected chronic coronary syndrome. Objective To verify the relationship between myocardial ischemia and ESBPRE in patients undergoing exercise stress echocardiography (ESE). Methods This is a cross-sectional study with 14,367 patients undergoing ESE, from January 2000 to January 2022, divided into the following 2 groups: G1, composed of patients whose peak systolic pressure increased ≥ […]

Introduction The exercise stress test (EST) has been indicated in various clinical situations. Despite the robust evidence about the clinical significance of ST-T abnormalities during exercise, little attention has been paid to the development of exercise-induced intraventricular conduction disorders. Conduction disorders and fascicular blocks induced during EST are rare. The prevalence of stress-induced left bundle-branch blocks (LBBB) ranges from 0.3%-0.5%, and frequently, the prognosis is more adverse (greater CAD and heart failure prevalence). […]

Abstract Background Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse has been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Pericoronary fat attenuation (pFA) is a marker of coronary inflammation, which is key in the atherosclerotic process. Objective To evaluate pFA and inflammatory profile in AAS users. Methods Twenty strength-trained AAS users (AASU), 20 AAS nonusers (AASNU), and 10 sedentary controls (SC) were evaluated. Coronary inflammation was evaluated by mean pericoronary fat attenuation (mPFA) in the right coronary artery (RCA), left anterior descending coronary artery […]

Abstract Background Many clinical studies have confirmed that legumain is closely related to atherosclerosis. Unfortunately, different conclusions have been reached, and analyses and studies on atherosclerotic plaque characteristics in patients with increased plasma levels of legumain are still lacking. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the correlation between legumain and coronary atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. Methods A total of 81 patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CHD), including 43 patients with unstable angina (UA) and 38 patients with stable angina (SA), […]