Obstructive sleep apnea and dementia: A role to play?

A growing number of studies, in animal models and humans, have highlighted the link between sleep and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. Among sleep disorders, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) appears to be a potentially interesting comorbidity, as it is highly prevalent in the middle-aged and elderly population, often associated with some cognitive impairment, associated with an increased risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia including AD, and indeed treatable. The association between OSA and cognition varies according to the studies, but OSA is more frequent in older people with AD than those who are cognitively normal. People with OSA suffer from daytime sleepiness, impaired cognitive function and an increased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, dementia and AD than those without OSA. Finally, the literature suggests a link between OSA and AD biomarkers. Whether screening and treating OSA could have positive impact on the levels of AD biomarkers and slow or even prevent incident dementia remain to be investigated. It therefore seems essential to understand the role of OSA in the pathophysiology of AD, as there is still no effective treatment to slow or halt its progression. At present, treating the risk factors that can promote the development and/or worsening of AD represents a promising strategy for delaying or even thwarting the onset of symptoms.

Lung fluid levels estimated by remote dielectric sensingTM values and invasive hemodynamic measurements

Background

Remote dielectric sensing (ReDSTM) is a recently introduced non-invasive electromagnetic-based technology to quantify lung fluid levels (Figure 1A). The association between ReDS values and invasively measured hemodynamics, particularly among those with small body size, remains uncertain.

Methods

Consecutive patients with chronic heart failure who were admitted to our institute and underwent right heart catheterization as well as simultaneous ReDS measurement at clinically stable conditions between Sep and Nov 2021 were prospectively included. The correlation between ReDS values and PCWP was investigated.

Results

A total of 30 patients (median 79 [73, 84] years old, 13 men) were included. Median ReDS value was 26% (22%, 28%). ReDS values had a moderate correlation with PCWP (r=0.698, p<0.001; Figure 1B), even among those with a height <155 cm. ReDS values with a cutoff 28% predicted a PCWP >15 mmHg with sensitivity 0.70 and specificity 0.75.

Conclusions

A non-invasive electromagnetic-based technology ReDS might be a promising tool to estimate cardiac pressure in patients with heart failure, even among those with smaller body size.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Clinical implications of troponin-T elevations following TAVR

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Baseline and post-procedural elevations in serum troponin-T levels are associated with increased morbidity and mortality following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, the prognostic impact of change in serum troponin-T level following TAVR remains unknown.

Methods

Among the patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR, those with baseline serum troponin-T level ≥51.5 ng/L were excluded. The impact of increases in serum troponin-T level to an abnormally high range (≥51.5 ng/L) following TAVR on 2-year cardiovascular death or heart failure readmissions was investigated.

Results

Among 189 included patients (median 86 years old, 28% men), serum troponin-T level increased in 79 patients following TAVR. An increase in serum troponin-T was associated with a higher rate of 30-day adverse events, predominantly due to pacemaker implantation for complete atrio-ventricular block, and a higher 2-year cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint (hazard ratio 3.97, 95% confidence interval 1.51-10.4, p = 0.005) adjusted for the use of balloon-expandable valve and post-TAVR pacemaker implantation (Figure 1).

Conclusion

Post-procedural increase in serum troponin-T level was associated with adverse clinical outcomes following TAVR. Abstract Figure. Cumulative incidence of endpoint

Pulmonary artery pulsatility index and hemolysis during Impella support

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Impella-related hemolysis is a well-known complication, which we sometimes experience in the clinical practice depending on various hemodynamic status including right ventricular impairment.

Methods

We enrolled consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock who received Impella support between March 2018 and December 2020. The association between pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) immediately after Impella insertion and the occurrence of hemolysis was investigated. Hemolytic event was defined as detection of hemoglobinuria and elevated lactate dehydrogenase level over 2.5 folds of upper normal range.

Results

Among 38 patients (median 71 y; men 61%; LVEF 29%) included in this study, hemolysis occurred in 18 patients (47%). Incidence of hemolysis was significantly higher in the low PAPi group (< 1.3) compared with the normal PAPi group (≥ 1.3) (67% vs. 33%, p = 0.0176; Figure 1). The low PAPi (<1.3) was significantly associated with the occurrence of hemolysis with a hazard ratio of 5.71 (95% confidence interval 1.09–29.91, p = 0.0313) adjusted for other clinically significant variables.

Conclusions

In patients with right ventricular impairment with lower PAPi, it might be encouraged to be aware of the risk of hemolysis, maintaining volume status and considering inotropes administration. Abstract Figure.

Impact of the angle between aortic and mitral annulus on the occurrence of hemolysis during Impella support

Background

Hemolysis of Impella is known as a major comorbidity and adequate device positioning and optimization of volume status are recommended. However, we have sometimes experienced hemolysis refractory to these adjustments and anatomical feature appears to be crucial in such cases.

Methods

We enrolled 26 patients (median 71 y; BSA 1.6 m2; LVEF 27%) with cardiogenic shock who received Impella insertion from March 2018 to November 2019. The angle of the aortic and mitral annulus which was drawn at the apical 3-chamber view on echocardiography, just before or after Impella insertion was measured (Figure). Hemolytic event was defined as follows; (1) Gross dark red urine and elevation of serum LDH level after initiation of Impella support were seen and subsequently required to lower the support level of Impella under P6. (2) Blood sample data indicating hemolysis (i.e. elevation of LDH level over 1.5 fold of normal range, anemia complicated with decreased haptoglobin, the elevation of total bilirubin level accompanied indirect bilirubin elevation) was found and subsequently required to initiate continuous hemodiafiltration.

Results

The freedom from hemolytic event was significantly lower in the narrow angle group (<126.5 degrees, Figure A) compared with the wide angle group (≥126.5 degrees, Figure B) (18% vs 83%, p<0.0001). The narrow angle was a significant risk factor of hemolytic event with an unadjusted hazard ratio 13.9 (95% confidence interval 2.88–67.2, p=0.0499) and a hazard ratio 15.5 (95% confidence interval 3.15–76.3, p=0.0008) adjusted for lower pulmonary artery pulsatility index, which was another risk factor significant in the univariate analyses. Furthermore, 30-day survival rate was significantly lower in the narrow angle group compared with the wide angle group (63% vs 100%, p=0.0116).

Conclusions

The narrow angle (<126.5 degrees) was an independent risk factor of hemolytic event and 30-day survival was lower compared with the wide angle group.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

148 Inappropriate elevation of angiopoietin-2 relative to hemodynamic stability is associated with bleeding events in patients with continuous flow mechanical circulatory support

Funding Acknowledgements

none

Background

Elevated angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) has been attributable to a potential cause of gastrointestinal bleeding among patients with continuous flow (CF) mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in the US, but Ang-2 levels have not been examined in the Japanese MCS patients who are likely to have less gastrointestinal bleeding.

Methods

We enrolled 18 patients (64 ± 16y; LVEF 26 ± 9%) with advanced heart failure (HF) who received temporary or durable MCS, or were given intravenous inotropes from August 2018 to January 2019. Serum Ang-2 and plasma BNP were simultaneously measured at various treatment status. The relationship between each value and any spontaneous bleeding events requiring hemostasis or blood transfusion was examined.

Results

103 blood samples were collected and divided into 2 groups. One was the CF group, which consisted of samples from patients under CF-MCS (Impella, ECMO, Jarvik2000, HeartMateII), and the others were assigned to the Non-CF group. Ang-2 levels had a positive correlation with BNP levels (r = 0.33, p = 0.0006, Fig). CF-MCS efficiently lowered BNP levels (353 ± 125 in CF vs 1053 ± 119 in Non-CF, pg/mL, p < 0.0001), but Ang-2 levels relative to BNP levels were significantly higher in the CF group as shown in the Figure (Ang-2/log10(BNP) ratio: 3.77 ± 0.30 in CF vs 2.43 ± 0.29 in Non-CF, p = 0.0017). Bleeding events were remarkably frequent when Ang-2/log10(BNP)>3.17 (77.8%) than ≦3.17 (22.2%, p = 0.0002).

Conclusions

High Ang-2 level is normally a marker for hemodynamic compromise, but CF-MCS may stimulate Ang-2 production despite hemodynamic stabilization. Most of spontaneous bleeding events accompany inappropriately high Ang-2 relative to BNP level among Japanese patients with advanced HF.

Abstract 148 Figure. Correlation between Ang-2 and BNP

4328Short-term effects of dapagliflozin versus canagliflozin on acute decompensated heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background

The CANVAS program and DECLERE-TIMI 58 reported that SGLT2i had been demonstrated to reduce hospitalization for heart failure (HF) in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients with high cardiovascular disease risk. However, it remains unclear whether the effectiveness of SGLT2i on acute decompensated HF is also observed in T2DM patients irrespective of acting types of SGLT2i.

Methods

In this single center, open-label, prospective study, fifty-eight T2DM patients hospitalized due to decompensated HF were enrolled (mean age 73 years, HbA1c 7.2%). After treatment for HF, 5mg/day of dapagliflozin (n=24, from February 2016 to February 2017) or 100mg/day of canagliflozin (n=34, from March 2017 to July 2018) was administered and clinical parameters about HF and T2DM were followed for 7 days. Statistical comparison of parameters between groups taking dapagliflozin or canagliflozin was performed using the two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (MANOVA).

Results

In both groups, urine glucose excretion increased significantly after administration of SGLT2i. Fasting blood glucose level tended to be decreased in both groups. Urine volume increased significantly one day after administration of SGLT2i, and returned to the baseline after one week in both groups. Interestingly, urine volume one day after administration of SGLT2i tended to increase more in the group taking canagliflozin than in the group taking dapagliflozin (interaction P value = 0.088). Importantly, plasma BNP levels and Nt-proBNP levels were decreased significantly in both groups.

Parameters before and after treatment Baseline Day 7 (Day 1) P value Interaction P value Fasting blood glucose, mg/dL All 137±57 122±51 0.013 0.900 Dapa 144±64 133±53 0.089 Cana 128±64 118±40 0.069 log BNP All 5.31±1.11 4.91±1.09 <0.001 0.102 Dapa 5.48±1.04 4.94±1.00 <0.001 Cana 5.20±1.15 4.89±1.16 <0.001 log Nt-proBNP All 7.25±1.35 6.96±1.41 <0.001 0.735 Dapa 7.54±1.16 7.22±1.25 0.048 Cana 7.04±1.45 6.79±1.50 0.005 Urine volume (Day 1), mL/24h All 1218±523 1584±614 <0.001 0.088 Dapa 1261±564 1486±568 0.038 Cana 1186±498 1654±644 <0.001 Urine volume (Day 7), mL/24h All 1218±523 1305±408 0.128 0.428 Dapa 1261±564 1295±468 0.700 Cana 1186±498 1313±367 0.097 Urine glucose, g/24h All 1.6±5.5 23.7±23.5 <0.001 0.330 Dapa 1.7±6.8 20.3±21.7 <0.001 Cana 1.5±4.6 26.0±24.7 <0.001

Conclusion

SGLT2i are useful for correcting volume overload and recovering from the decompensated state in HF patients with T2DM irrespective of acting types of SGLT2i.

Association of the Number of HLA-DR Mismatches With Early Post-transplant Acute Cellular Rejection Among Heart Transplantation Recipients: A Cohort Study in Japanese Population

BACKGROUND

Although many risk factors are reported about graft rejection after heart transplantation (HTx), the effect of HLA mismatch (MM) still remains unknown, especially in the Japanese population. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of HLA MM on graft rejection among HTx recipients in Japan.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated the association of the number of HLA MM including class I (A, B) and class II (DR) (for each locus MM: 0 to 2, total MM: 0 to 6) and the incidence of moderate to severe acute cellular rejection (ACR) confirmed by endomyocardial biopsy (International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation grade ≥ 3A/2R) within 1 year after HTx.

RESULTS

Between 2007 and 2014, we had 49 HTx cases in our institute. After excluding those with insufficient data and positive donor-specific antigen, finally 35 patients were enrolled. Moderate to severe ACR was observed in 16 (45.7%) patients. The number of HLA-DR MM was significantly associated with the development of ACR (ACR+: 1.50 ± 0.63, ACR-: 1.11 ± 0.46, P = .029). From univariate analysis, DR MM = 2 was the only independent risk factor for ACR episodes (P = .017). The frequency of ACR within 1 year was significantly higher in those with DR MM = 2 (DR MM = 0 to 1: 0.3 ± 0.47, DR MM = 2: 1.17 ± 1.34 times, P = .007).

CONCLUSIONS

The number of HLA-DR MMs was associated with the development and recurrence of ACR episodes among HTx recipients within 1 year after transplantation in Japanese population.

[Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a cause of cognitive disorders in the elderly?]

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a chronic disease characterized by repeated upper airway obstructions during sleep, resulting in fragmented sleep with arousals, nocturnal intermittent hypoxemia and diurnal dysfunctions. Despite its high prevalence in elderly, sleep apnea syndrome seems to be underestimated and difficult to be recognized because of the lack of clinical symptoms specificity in this population. Among the numerous consequences of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, cognitive impairment prevails on the attention, executive functions and memory. Neuroimaging studies in human and experimental models allowed to highlight neural correlates of these cognitive dysfunctions in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with cognitive impairment shares some features with Alzheimer's disease, involving genetic predisposition ApoE4, hippocampus and synaptic plasticity abnormalities. In this context, the question arises whether obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a possible etiological or aggravating factor of cognitive decline in elderly with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease. Although there are conflicting results in studies evaluating therapeutic efficiency of continuous positive air pressure, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome seems nevertheless as a correctable factor, at least for its impact on some cognitive consequences. Looking for sleep apnea syndrome in elderly with cognitive decline should be considered in a global, diagnosis and therapeutic management.

Effects of bosentan on nondigital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Bosentan is an oral dual endothelin receptor antagonist, which has been shown to be efficacious for preventing new digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in two high-quality randomized controlled trials. However, its efficacy for nondigital ulcers in SSc remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of bosentan on nondigital ulcers in patients with SSc.

METHODS

Bosentan was administered to five patients with SSc with pulmonary arterial hypertension, who also had nondigital ulcers refractory to conventional treatments. The efficacy of bosentan on nondigital ulcers and its association with clinical features of ulcers were analysed.

RESULTS

The nondigital ulcers refractory to conventional treatments were significantly improved by the administration of bosentan in cases surrounded with severe cyanosis. In contrast, nondigital ulcers without cyanosis were still refractory to bosentan therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Bosentan may be efficacious for accelerating the healing of nondigital ulcers with severe cyanosis, suggesting that nondigital ulcers caused by severely impaired peripheral circulation are highly responsive to this treatment.

Measurement of short-chain fatty acids in human faeces using high-performance liquid chromatography: specimen stability

BACKGROUND

Short-chain fatty acids such as lactic acid produced by the intestinal bacterial flora have various physiological actions involved in health, and it is important to determine the concentrations of faecal short-chain fatty acids and evaluate their relationship with large intestinal diseases. In this study, we evaluated the highly selective and sensitive simultaneous measurement of both volatile and non-volatile short-chain fatty acid hydrazides using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Faeces treated with ethanol were used as analytic samples. Short-chain fatty acids were measured as fatty acid hydrazides by HPLC.

RESULTS

For 12 types of short-chain fatty acid, the results regarding linearity, recovery tests and reproducibility were favourable. Faeces treated with ethanol could be stored at room temperature.

DISCUSSION

The stability of short-chain fatty acids in faeces at room temperature was statistically analysed. Faeces stored without treatment with ethanol showed increases/decreases in the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, which may be due to assimilation by intestinal bacteria. However, specimen in 70% ethanol and stored in room temperature exhibited no substantial changes in concentrations of short-chain fatty acids up to seven days.

Ets-1 is involved in transcriptional regulation of the chick inducible nitric oxide synthase gene in embryonic ventricular myocytes

In order to elucidate roles of Ets family of transcription factors in transcriptional activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes, we analyzed the chick iNOS gene expression in cultured chick embryonic ventricular myocytes (CEVM). Deletional analysis and site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that both the Ets/PEA3 site (-221 to -216 bp) and the kappaB site (-101 to -93 bp) of the 5'-flanking region of the chick iNOS gene were involved in the maximal activation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of the reporter (luciferase) gene, although the proximal kappaB site played the more essential role. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that LPS augmented the nuclear protein bindings to the Ets/PEA3 as well as kappaB motifs. Ets-1, one of the Ets proteins, was suggested to be bound to the Ets/PEA3 oligonucleotide. By Northern blot analysis, LPS was shown to induce iNOS mRNA in CEVM, along with a preceding increase in the levels of c-ets-1 mRNA. Ets-1 may be involved in the iNOS gene transcription in CEVM, presumably through interacting with the NF-kappaB.

Regulation of thyroid hormone receptor isoforms in physiological and pathological cardiac hypertrophy

Physiological and pathological cardiac hypertrophy have directionally opposite changes in transcription of thyroid hormone (TH)-responsive genes, including alpha- and beta-myosin heavy chain (MyHC) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA), and TH treatment can reverse molecular and functional abnormalities in pathological hypertrophy, such as pressure overload. These findings suggest relative hypothyroidism in pathological hypertrophy, but serum levels of TH are usually normal. We studied the regulation of TH receptors (TRs) beta1, alpha1, and alpha2 in pathological and physiological rat cardiac hypertrophy models with hypothyroid- and hyperthyroid-like changes in the TH target genes, alpha- and beta-MyHC and SERCA. All 3 TR subtypes in myocytes were downregulated in 2 hypertrophy models with a hypothyroid-like mRNA phenotype, phenylephrine in culture and pressure overload in vivo. Myocyte TRbeta1 was upregulated in models with a hyperthyroid-like phenotype, TH (triiodothyronine, T3), in culture and exercise in vivo. In myocyte culture, TR overexpression, or excess T3, reversed the effects of phenylephrine on TH-responsive mRNAs and promoters. In addition, TR cotransfection and treatment with the TRbeta1-selective agonist GC-1 suggested different functional coupling of the TR isoforms, TRbeta1 to transcription of beta-MyHC, SERCA, and TRbeta1, and TRalpha1 to alpha-MyHC transcription and increased myocyte size. We conclude that TR isoforms have distinct regulation and function in rat cardiac myocytes. Changes in myocyte TR levels can explain in part the characteristic molecular phenotypes in physiological and pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Prognostic factors for survival and bladder recurrence in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract

BACKGROUND

Prognostic factors for survival in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract have been extensively evaluated, but detailed analyses of patterns of bladder recurrence after surgery have been rare.

METHODS

The outcome and tumor recurrence of 93 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract surgically treated between 1975 and 1999 were reviewed, retrospectively. Disease-specific survival by pathologic stage and grade were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier

METHOD

Prognostic factors for survival and bladder recurrence were examined by univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The 5-year disease-specific survival rates of the patients with pTa, T1 and T2 were 92.9%, 100% and 88.9%, respectively. However, that of the pT3 patients was 61.9% and the median survival of the pT4 cases was only 7 months. Bladder recurrence was seen in 40 cases and recurrences occurred within 1 year in 32 of these patients. The stage and grade of metachronous bladder tumors usually resembled those of primary tumors, but invasive recurrences were seen in 19% of recurrent cases with primary pTa, pT1 tumors. The significant prognostic factor for survival was pathologic stage (pT3, pT4), but no significant variables were detected for bladder recurrence by multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of pT3, pT4 patients is poor and effective systemic adjuvant therapy is necessary. Invasive bladder recurrence occurred in 19% of patients with superficial primary tumors. As no significant prognostic variables for bladder recurrence were identified, careful follow up for bladder recurrence is important even if the primary tumors are non-invasive.

Cloning of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha cDNA from chick embryonic ventricular myocytes

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is composed of HIF-1alpha and arylhydrocarbon nuclear receptor translocator (ARNT), which belong to the basic-helix-loop-helix-Per/ARNT/Sim (bHLH-PAS) family of transcription factors. HIF plays key roles in oxygen homeostasis and embryonic cardiovascular development. In this study, we have cloned cDNAs encoding the chick HIF-1alpha from cultured embryonic ventricular myocytes (CEVM) and then examined its expression in various embryonic tissues. The deduced amino acid sequence of the chick HIF-1alpha cDNA showed 79% identity with that of the human HIF-1alpha cDNA. In contrast, sequence homology between the chick HIF-1alpha and endothelial PAS protein 1 (EPAS1), another member of the bHLH-PAS proteins, was only low (49%). HIF-1alpha mRNA was expressed abundantly in CEVM, but scarcely in the liver, which was quite different from expression pattern of EPAS1 mRNA. These data suggest that HIF-1alpha may be involved in embryonic cardiovascular development. HIF-1alpha and EPAS1 may play distinct roles during developmental stages.