Evaluation of Heart-type Fatty Acid-binding Protein in Early Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction

New cardiovascular disease markers in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia carriers of genetic variants

Objectives

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease characterized by elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc). The early diagnosis of FH can reduce unfavorable outcomes in this population, but genetic study is not available in all populations. This study aimed to evaluate new cardiovascular plasma markers (GDF-15, CXCL16, FABP3, FABP4, LIGHT, sCD14, ucMGP), as well as Lp(a) levels, in individuals genetically characterized for FH, classified according to treatment with statins.

Methods

Sequencing was performed by next generation sequencing (NGS) for 17 ICs and by the Sanger method for 120 relatives. Lp(a) was measured by turbidimetry and the other cardiovascular markers by the multiplex method for Luminex®. Statistical analyses were performed using the R Platform version 4.2.2 program.

Results

86 individuals carrying FH genetic variants and 51 non-carrier family members were identified. Lp(a) showed higher levels in the group with variants and was correlated to LDLc levels. FABP3 levels were higher in the group carrying variants using statins compared to the group without statins. The non-carrier group using statins showed higher levels of FABP4 compared to the carrier group using statins. The markers GDF-15, CXCL16, LGHT, sCD14 and ucMGP did not show a significant difference between groups, but GDF-15 and sCD14 were correlated to LDLc levels.

Conclusions

Lp(a) and the new markers FABP3 e FABP4 are associated with FH, their levels are modulated by the use of statins, and they could be potential markers to assess the disease when genetic testing is not available.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-024-01537-w.

Myocardial injury and its association with venom-induced coagulopathy following Bothrops atrox snakebite envenomation

BACKGOUND

In Brazil, the highest incidences of snakebite envenomation (SBE) occur in the Amazon region, caused mostly by Bothrops atrox. Among the effects of envenomation, cardiac alterations are not a frequent outcome but are highly linked to severe cases.

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the serum profile of cardiac injury markers (fatty acid binding protein 3 - H-FABP3, N-terminal type B natriuretic peptide - NTproBNP, creatine kinase-MB - CPK-MB, and troponin I) following Bothrops SBEs and their association with venom-induced coagulopathy.

METHODS

Plasma markers were evaluated from blood collected at admission (before antivenom - T0) and 48h after antivenom (T48) from 80 B. atrox SBE patients treated at a tertiary hospital in Manaus, Brazilian Amazon, and 20 healthy donors.

RESULTS

Markers were found increased, above reference range or compared to sex- and age-matched healthy controls, including FABP3 in at least 98.7% of patients, Troponin I 12.5%, and CK-MB in 8.8%. Regarding correlations to coagulation markers, alpha 2-antiplasmin concentrations were negatively correlated with FABP3 levels (T0), whereas FDP, tissue factor, and plasma factor VII levels were positively correlated with troponin I concentrations. Moreover, the group of patients with increased troponin I levels presented significantly higher FDP concentrations, factor VII levels, and risk for systemic bleeding at T0, whereas higher D-dimer concentrations at T48.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show that Bothrops SBE is responsible for myocardial injury, although not associated with severe outcomes, and its directly associated to venom-induced coagulopathy, indicating troponin-I and FABP3 as possible markers to screen patients for more detailed cardiac alterations.

Wearable biosensors for monitoring and as a predictive adjunct for patients at risk for ischemic cardiac-related injury

Despite increased attention and preventive efforts, the prevalence of major adverse cardiovascular events continues to rise, resulting in profound concerns for both the individual and the population at large. Rapidly evolving biotechnologies, micro-computerization, communication, and battery design have led to widespread commercial adoption, use, and dependence on smart devices, and, more recently, biosensors. Currently worn and carried, smart devices such as mobile phones and smart watches possess impressive computational and communication capabilities, monitoring a variety of biometrics such as heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac rhythm. Several promising biomarkers have been identified that are expressed early in the development of cardiac injury. Biosensors that can assay multiple variants are now described, obviating the limitations generally attributed to dependence upon a single biomarker. Employing mathematical modeling along with intelligent learning capabilities complements and augments their potential value. Data derived from wearable multivariate biosensors linked to already worn smart devices can communicate information to protected settings with enhanced computational capability and cogency by evaluating relayed biometrics and early expressed biomarkers as well as trending data, improving sensitivity and specificity. Integrating intelligent learning capabilities can further power these efforts with beneficial impact on individuals and groups at risk, yielding great promise as monitoring and predictive adjuncts. Future derivations might, for those of particular concern, be linked to critical drug delivery and interventional systems.

Circulating RBP4 and FABP4 concentrations in patients with chronic schizophrenia are associated with increased epicardial adipose tissue volume and metabolic syndrome

Schizophrenia has been linked to an elevated cardiovascular risk profile and premature onset of cardiovascular disease. Quantifying epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume provides insight into its correlation with coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and associated risk factors. Previous research indicates higher pericardial adipose tissue in individuals with schizophrenia compared to non-schizophrenic counterparts. RBP4, FABP3, and FABP4 have been implicated in CAD pathogenesis. In this study, we examined the potential increase in EAT volume in individuals with chronic schizophrenia and aimed to elucidate the relationship between circulating levels of RBP4, FABP3, and FABP4 with EAT volume and coronary artery calcium score within this cohort. We recruited 186 consecutive patients with chronic schizophrenia and utilized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to assess plasma concentrations of RBP4, FABP3, and FABP4. Cardiac multislice computed tomography measured EAT volume and coronary artery calcium scores. Significantly higher EAT volume in patients with chronic schizophrenia compared to controls. RBP4 associated positively with metabolic factors and EAT volumes, while FABP3 associated positively with creatinine and coronary atherosclerosis markers. FABP4 showed positive associations with metabolic factors, hypertension, and EAT volumes, but negative associations with HDL-C and eGFR. Logistic regression identified RBP4 and FABP4 as independent factors associated with increased EAT volumes, even after adjusting for known biomarkers. Both RBP4 and FABP4 were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome components and EAT volume. This study elucidates the association between chronic schizophrenia and augmented EAT volume, suggesting plausible correlations with CAD-related health complications through RBP4 and FABP4 pathways.

Importance of H-FABP in Early Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background

Over the years, troponins have aced the para-clinical tests for confirming the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. However, the rise in their levels is entirely time-dependent, which can cause a delay in the initiation of treatment protocols. Heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) can serve comparatively as a better biological marker for overcoming this flaw of troponins, as it is quickly released into the bloodstream once the myocardial injury occurs due to decreased blood supply. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of this marker as well as establish the specificity and sensitivity of testing the H-FABP, if it adds to early diagnosis and can be relied upon in the future.

Material and Methods

We evaluated 83 patients and their H-FABP levels, along with the standard cardiac markers like hsTni and CK-MB, in patients presenting with symptoms indicating an ongoing coronary event, who had presented to our hospital between August 2020 and June 2021. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 comprised patients who had first medical contact within 4 hours of the onset of chest pain, and group 2 patients who had first medical contact after 4 hours of the appearance of symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using MedCalc v20.023, considering statistical significance values of p <0.05. Results for targeted variables are presented using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, range, median, and associated interquartile range) for continuous data, and counts with associated percentages for categorical data.

Results

H-FABP was found to have better sensitivity and specificity of 89.67 and 95.65 in group 1 patients and 86.73 and 49.84, respectively, in group 2 patients. The other two cardiac biomarkers evaluated had lower values in response to H-FABP in the first 4 hours of presentation. Results for group 2 showed that specificitivity for hsTni is higher than that of H-FABP, that is, 69.98.

Conclusion

Heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) should be included in the protocol for biochemical evaluation of all patients presenting to the emergency services with a suspicion of possible myocardial infarction. Early detection of this protein can help in effective and timely management of myocardial infarction, thus further decreasing mortality rates and the financial burden on healthcare systems worldwide.

Association of H-FABP with cardiovascular events: A systematic review

The research aimed to evaluate the association between heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) and cardiovascular events. We systematically reviewed research that has been conducted to assess this relationship, aiming to determine how useful H-FABP could be as a biomarker for cardiovascular diseases, especially in the initial phases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Our goal was to validate its diagnostic accuracy and clinical relevance. We systematically searched through PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases to find pertinent publications related to cardiovascular diseases and H-FABP, using various permutations, abbreviations, and language variations of MeSH keywords. The final analysis included 12 studies in total. The final study comprised twelve studies, and it was concluded that H-FABP demonstrated high sensitivity (64.3-91.5) and specificity (73-100) for diagnosing Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), especially within the first hours of symptom onset. H-FABP demonstrates potential in enhancing the overall diagnostic accuracy during the initial hours following the manifestation of symptoms. However, the existing data do not provide sufficient evidence to recommend the regular utilization of H-FABP as a preliminary risk assessment approach in individuals who present with suspected cardiac events. Additional investigations, with well-defined prospective cohorts, are needed to validate the results observed.

Advances in research on biomarkers associated with acute myocardial infarction: A review

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the most severe cardiovascular event in clinical settings, imposes a significant burden with its annual increase in morbidity and mortality rates. However, it is noteworthy that mortality due to AMI in developed countries has experienced a decline, largely attributable to the advancements in medical interventions such as percutaneous coronary intervention. This trend highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis and effective treatment to preserve the myocardium at risk and improve patient outcomes. Conventional biomarkers such as myoglobin, creatine kinase isoenzymes, and troponin have been instrumental in the diagnosis of AMI. However, recent years have witnessed the emergence of new biomarkers demonstrating the potential to further enhance the accuracy of AMI diagnosis. This literature review focuses on the recent advancements in biomarker research in the context of AMI diagnosis.

Biomarker array for prediction of acute kidney injury after percutaneous coronary intervention for patients who had acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and is associated with poor outcomes. AKI is diagnosed by the dynamic change of serum Cr, but it could not predict AKI. This study aimed to evaluate a biomarker array that may fulfill this shortage. Setting: Cardiology Department, Tanta University Hospital. Design: Prospective interventional study included 280 acute STEMI patients who underwent emergency PCI. Serial samples of blood and urine were obtained at the time of admission to the hospital (T0) and PCI unit (T1) and at 12 h and 72 h (T12 and T72) after coronary revascularization to estimate levels of serum Cr, creatine phosphokinase, and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and calculation of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and urinary liver-type FABP (L-FABP). AKI was diagnosed according to the recommendations of the European Renal Best Practice as the times of increased serum Cr concerning baseline level. 85 patients developed AKI. Regression analyses defined a high NLR ratio in the T0 sample as the most significant predictor for early AKI diagnosed at T1 time, while high NLR and serum H-FABP levels in T1 samples as the significant predictors for AKI defined at T12 time. However, high urinary L-FABP levels in T12 samples and high NLR are significant predictors for AKI at T72 time. Combined estimations of serum H-FABP and urinary L-FABP with the calculation of NLR could predict the oncoming AKI and discriminate its pathogenesis. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethical Committee at Tanta Faculty of Medicine by approval number: 35327/3/22. For blindness purposes, the authors will be blinded about the laboratory results till the end of 72 h after revascularization and the clinical pathologist will be blinded about the indication for the requested investigations.

The research progress and research trends in acute coronary syndrome nursing: A review of visual analysis based on the Web of Science database

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the most common and severe forms of cardiovascular disease and has attracted worldwide attention with increased morbidity and mortality in recent years. There are few review studies in the field of its care in the form of bibliometric studies. We searched the Web of Science Core Collection database for articles and reviews in the area of ACS nursing for visual mapping analysis. Our objectives are to explore the hot topics and frontiers of research in the field of ACS nursing and to identify collaborative relationships between countries, institutions, and authors. This study will provide researchers with intuitive reference data for future in-depth studies of ACSs.

FABP3, FABP4, and heart rate variability among patients with chronic schizophrenia

Introduction

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD-related deaths in patients with schizophrenia is high. An elevated risk of CVD has been associated with low heart rate variability (HRV). There is increasing evidence that fatty acid-binding protein (FABP)3 and FABP4 play roles in the development and progression of CVD. This study aimed to explore the association of circulating FABP3/FABP4 levels with HRV in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Methods

We included 265 consecutive patients with chronic schizophrenia who attended a disease management program. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the measurement of plasma concentrations of FABP3 and FABP4. Standard HRV was recorded at baseline following a standard protocol. Mean high- and low-frequency (HF/LF) HRV values were analyzed by tertile of FABP3 and FABP4 using one-way analysis of variance, and linear regression analysis was performed to assess trends.

Results

A positive association between FABP3 and creatinine was found in multiple regression analysis. In addition, negative associations between levels of hematocrit, hemoglobin, HF HRV, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with FABP3 were also found. Moreover, positive associations between FABP4 with body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, and FABP3 were found. Furthermore, negative associations between levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, eGFR, and HF HRV with FABP4 were found. We also found a significant inverse association between FABP3 and HF HRV (p for trend = 0.008), and significant inverse associations between FABP4 with HF and LF HRV (p for trend = 0.007 and 0.017, respectively).

Discussion

Together, this suggests that elevated levels of FABP3 and FABP4 may be linked to health problems related to CVD in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

The Role of Fatty Acid Binding Protein 3 in Cardiovascular Diseases

Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are proteins found in the cytosol that contribute to disorders related to the cardiovascular system, including atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. Functionally, FABPs serve as intracellular lipid chaperones, interacting with hydrophobic ligands and mediating their transportation to sites of lipid metabolism. To date, nine unique members of the FABP family (FABP 1–9) have been identified and classified according to the tissue in which they are most highly expressed. In the literature, FABP3 has been shown to be a promising clinical biomarker for coronary and peripheral artery disease. Given the rising incidence of cardiovascular disease and its associated morbidity/mortality, identifying biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment is critical. In this review, we highlight key discoveries and recent studies on the role of FABP3 in cardiovascular disorders, with a particular focus on its clinical relevance as a biomarker for peripheral artery disease.

The Prognostic Value of Cardiac Biomarkers in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction during and after Hospitalization

Background

Myocardial infarction (MI) carries a strong risk of death and the development of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). A number of biomarkers have been proposed for risk stratification among patients with MI. The aim of this study was to determine whether elevated galectin-3 and midregional-pro atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) levels can be used as predictors of MACE in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

Plasma levels of galectin-3 and MR-proANP were collected from 96 patients following their first AMI hospitalised in our clinic over the course of a year. Samples were taken on admission, and on the first and fifth day of hospitalization. During hospitalization, all patients were followed up for the occurrence of early major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as sudden cardiac arrest, new onset atrial fibrillation and need to use pressor amines. All patients were also followed up twelve months after AMI for the occurrence of late MACE defined as cardiac death, reinfarction and need for unscheduled PCI.

Results

Patients who experienced early MACE had significantly higher galectin-3 and MR-proANP levels assessed on admission (p = 0.007, p = 0.003). ROC curve analysis found also galectin-3 concentration assessed on admission to be a strong predictor of late MACE (AUC = 0.75, p = 0.0061). MRproANP does not appear to have any value in predicting late MACE.

Conclusions

A high concentration of galectin-3 and MR-proANP observed on admission in patients with acute myocardial infarction has significant prognostic value: it may identify patients at high risk of early adverse cardiac events after AMI. In contrast to MR-proANP, a high concentration of galectin-3 observed on admission may also identify patients at high risk of late MACE.

From Classic to Modern Prognostic Biomarkers in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Despite all the important advances in its diagnosis and treatment, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is still one of the most prominent causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early identification of patients at high risk of poor outcomes through the measurement of various biomarker concentrations might contribute to more accurate risk stratification and help to guide more individualized therapeutic strategies, thus improving prognoses. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the role and applications of cardiac biomarkers in risk stratification and prognostic assessment for patients with myocardial infarction. Although there is no ideal biomarker that can provide prognostic information for risk assessment in patients with AMI, the results obtained in recent years are promising. Several novel biomarkers related to the pathophysiological processes found in patients with myocardial infarction, such as inflammation, neurohormonal activation, myocardial stress, myocardial necrosis, cardiac remodeling and vasoactive processes, have been identified; they may bring additional value for AMI prognosis when included in multi-biomarker strategies. Furthermore, the use of artificial intelligence algorithms for risk stratification and prognostic assessment in these patients may have an extremely important role in improving outcomes.

H-FABP as a diagnostic marker for early detection of young myocardial infarction among Indians

It is of interest to document the point-of-care test using heart-type fatty-acid binding protein (H-FABP) in comparison with CK-MB, Troponin T and hsCRP. This is a more sensitive and specific cardiac biomarker than cTnT and CK-MB, and it has a higher diagnostic effectiveness for detecting early acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The case-control study enrolled 220 participants (110 myocardial infarction patients as cases and 110 healthy subjects as control) > 18 years of either sex after ethical clearance and informed consent form. The study conducted was conducted in the OPD and IPD of Medicine and Biochemistry Department at Moti Lal Nehru Medical College and Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh; Index Medical College & Hospital, Malwanchal University, India. The amount of H-FABP, CKMB and cTnT was measured using the Sandwich ELISA method and hs-CRP was evaluated using the immune-turbidimetry method. H-FABP correlation with selected markers (CK-MB, hs CRP and TnT) and CK-MB was significant. A positive correlation (r=0.2 to 0.29) was found when H-FABP was compared with CK-MB (p<0.05). Similar positive correlation was found in CK-MB with cTnT. H-FABP is a useful cardiac marker for the early diagnosis of young AMI and thus prediction of myocardial injury is possible. H-FABP compared with CK-MB showed positive correlation. CK-MB with cTnT also showed statistically significant relation. Thus, H-FABP and CK-MB, as well as the correlation between CK-MB and TnT, reflects utility in early-stage diagnosis of myocardial injury.

Identification of Key Genes as Early Warning Signals of Acute Myocardial Infarction Based on Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis and Dynamic Network Biomarker Algorithm

Purpose

The specific mechanisms and biomarkersunderlying the progression of stable coronary artery disease (CAD) to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain unclear. The current study aims to explore novel gene biomarkers associated with CAD progression by analyzing the transcriptomic sequencing data of peripheral blood monocytes in different stages of CAD.

Material and Methods

A total of 24 age- and sex- matched patients at different CAD stages who received coronary angiography were enrolled, which included 8 patients with normal coronary angiography, 8 patients with angiographic intermediate lesion, and 8 patients with AMI. The RNA from peripheral blood monocytes was extracted and transcriptome sequenced to analyze the gene expression and the differentially expressed genes (DEG). A Gene Oncology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed to analyze the biological function of genes. Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to classify genes into several gene modules with similar expression profiles, and correlation analysis was carried out to explore the association of each gene module with a clinical trait. The dynamic network biomarker (DNB) algorithm was used to calculate the key genes that promote disease progression. Finally, the overlapping genes between different analytic methods were explored.

Results

WGCNA analysis identified a total of nine gene modules, of which two modules have the highest positive association with CAD stages. GO enrichment analysis indicated that the biological function of genes in these two gene modules was closely related to inflammatory response, which included T-cell activation, cell response to inflammatory stimuli, lymphocyte activation, cytokine production, and the apoptotic signaling pathway. DNB analysis identified a total of 103 genes that may play key roles in the progression of atherosclerosis plaque. The overlapping genes between DEG/WGCAN and DNB analysis identified the following 13 genes that may play key roles in the progression of atherosclerosis disease: SGPP2, DAZAP2, INSIG1, CD82, OLR1, ARL6IP1, LIMS1, CCL5, CDK7, HBP1, PLAU, SELENOS, and DNAJB6.

Conclusions

The current study identified a total of 13 genes that may play key roles in the progression of atherosclerotic plaque and provides new insights for early warning biomarkers and underlying mechanisms underlying the progression of CAD.

Promising Novel Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases remain the most common causes of death globally, according to the World Health Organization. In recent years, a great number of biomarkers have been investigated, whereas only some have gained value in the diagnosis, prognosis, and risk stratification of different cardiovascular illnesses. As numerous studies have investigated the diagnostic yield of novel biomarkers in various disease entities every year, this review aims to provide an overview of the current status of four promising representatives. In particular, this manuscript refers to soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), growth differentiation factor (GDF-15) and soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR). These markers are of special interest as they are thought to provide an accurate estimate of cardiovascular risk in certain patient populations, especially those with pre-existing diseases, such as obesity or diabetes mellitus. We sought to give an overview of their function, individual diagnostic and predictive value and determination in the laboratory. A review of the literature regarding the aforementioned cardiovascular biomarkers yielded manifold results with respect to their individual diagnostic and prognostic value. Yet, the clinical relevance of these findings remains unclear, warranting further studies to identify their optimal use in clinical routine.