Association of CABG SYNTAX score with long term clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing SVG PCI

OBJECTIVE

The CABG SYNTAX score (CSS) has been recommended as an objective and quantitative evaluation tool for coronary anatomic complexity after CABG. We aimed at evaluating the long-term prognostic value of the CSS and its relationship with the composite criteria of all-cause death, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and/or non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of saphenous vein graft (SVG).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 232 patients who were admitted with MI and underwent PCI of SVGs, between 2012 and 2018. The study population was divided into two groups according to the results of the median pre-PCI CSS.

RESULTS

The composite criteria of all-cause death/CVA/non-fatal MI were observed in 107 patients (46.1%). The incidence of the primary endpoint was significantly higher among the patients with a high pre-PCI CSS (p < .001). Multivariable Cox regression analyses demonstrated that both pre-PCI CSS (HR = 1.678, 95% CI = 1.082-2.602, p = .021) and post-PCI CSS (HR = 1.663, 95% CI = 1.066-2.596, p = .025) were significantly associated with the primary endpoint. The Kaplan-Meier cumulative curves divided by the median of the pre-PCI CSS demonstrated that, compared with the low pre-PCI CSS group, the high-score group was associated at five years with higher composite criteria of all-cause death/CVA/non-fatal MI (low, 40.3%; high, 57.8%; p = .015).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-PCI CSS is a significant prognostic factor for the long-term clinical outcomes in patients with previous CABG who underwent PCI of SVG.

Is there any association between irritable bowel syndrome subgroups and autonomous dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional intestinal disorder. Although there are marked improvements in the conceptualization of IBS pathophysiology in brain-intestinal interaction disorder, there is no definite consensus in the role of autonomic dysfunction (AD) in disease development and symptom progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate autonomous dysfunction in IBS subgroups.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 50 patients and 49 healthy controls were included. IBS subgroup types and demographic characteristics of patients were recorded. AD investigations were made up of parasympathetic and sympathetic tests.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in accordance to demographic characteristics such as age, gender, BMI and resting heart rate (p > 0.05). Three parasympathetic and one sympathetic autonomic neuropathy tests were found significantly different (respectively p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.016, p < 0.001, p = 0.375). There were significant decreases in parasympathetic tests in IBS-C patients; however, in the control group, there were significant decreases in sympathetic tests when compared with IBS-D patients (p < 0.001). The severity of AD in IBS-C subgroup was more pronounced than the IBS-D subgroup. No correlation was determined between dysautonomia and disease duration (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

AD may have a role in IBS pathophysiology. Deterioration of the autonomous system not only affects the gastrointestinal system but also other systems including the cardiovascular system. Patients may also be susceptible to more diverse problems.

Tuberous sclerosis: ultrasound, CT and MRI features of two cases with multiple organ involvement

The cases of two patients with tuberous sclerosis with multiple sites of involvement are presented. Both patients had characteristic cerebral lesions of tuberous sclerosis associated with bilateral renal angiomyolipomas and hepatic hamartomas. Additionally there were diffuse pulmonary cystic changes in one patient and cardiac rhabdomyoma in the other.