冠心病患者合并代谢综合征危险因素与冠状动脉病变的关系

目的探讨冠心病(congenital heart disease,CHD)合并代谢综合征(metabolic syndrome,MS)患者与冠状动脉病变(coronary atherosclerotic heart disease,CAD)严重程度的关系。方法入选经冠动脉造影确诊冠心病429例。按冠心病是否合并代谢综合征进行分组。所有患者均查体质指数(BMI)、血压(BP)、空腹血糖(FBG)、甘油三酯(TG)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL-c)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-c)、血尿酸(UA)及年龄、性别、吸烟等。结果合并代谢综合征组的BMI、BP、FBG、TG、HDL-c、TC、LDL-c、UA均显著高于与单纯冠心病组(P<0.05),冠状动脉病变Gensini评分和病变支数明显增加(P<0.01);HDL-c、LDL-c、BMI与冠状动脉病变程度显著相关(P<0.01)。结论冠心病患者合并代谢综合征可加重冠状动脉病变严重程度,HDL-c、LDL-c、BMI可作为预测冠状动脉狭窄严重程度的参考指标之一。

介入治疗心肌桥和心肌桥并发严重冠状动脉粥样硬化病变的疗效观察

目的:探讨冠脉内药物支架置入治疗心肌桥及心肌桥并发严重冠状动脉粥样硬化病变的疗效。方法:对14例急性心肌梗死的心肌桥患者(冠状动脉造影示心肌桥均位于前降支,心脏收缩时血管狭窄75%～95%,病变长度为10～22mm。8例并发心肌桥近端冠状动脉粥样硬化伴狭窄和完全闭塞,5例为心肌桥以外冠状动脉粥样硬化伴狭窄和完全闭塞,1例为单纯心肌桥。)行吉威雷帕霉素药物支架于冠状动脉粥样硬化伴狭窄和完全闭塞及部分患者心肌桥处。结果:术中即刻造影示冠状动脉粥样硬化狭窄和闭塞处及置入支架的心肌桥压缩影像消失,血流恢复,TIMI3级,管腔无残余狭窄。随访3～18个月有3例再发心绞痛,经药物治疗后症状缓解。结论:对有心肌桥和心肌桥并发严重冠状动脉脉粥样硬化病变的患者,可以选择药物支架置入治疗,但远期疗效仍需更多的病例研究证实。

急诊冠脉搭桥初步经验

目的:探讨急诊冠状动脉搭桥术的手术指征、并发症及围术期处理方法。方法:回顾18例急诊冠脉搭桥手术患者围术期危险因素及死亡原因。入选病例均符合ACC/AHA有关冠心病手术指南中急诊冠状动脉搭桥术适应证。不稳定性心绞痛16例,经皮冠状动脉成形术失败2例。结果:16例恢复出院,2例术后死亡,病死率11%。5例出现围术期并发症,占28%。结论:急诊冠脉搭桥手术是治疗冠心病一种有效且安全的方法。

血清总胆红素、血脂及尿酸水平检测在冠心病中的临床价值

目的通过分析冠心病与非冠心病患者血清总胆红素、血脂及尿酸水平,探讨其在预测评估冠心病的临床意义。方法对95例疑似冠心病患者,经冠状动脉造影结果分为冠心病组60例和非冠心病组35例,测定其血清总胆红素、血脂各组分及尿酸水平。结果冠心病组血清总胆红素水平低于非冠心病组,TC、LDL-c及ApoB水平高于非冠心病组,LDL-c/HDL-c及ApoB/ApoAl比值显著高于非冠心病组,血清尿酸水平高于非冠心病组。结论血清总胆红素、尿酸和血清脂质各组分检测,对预测评估冠心病有一定临床价值。

曲美他嗪与比索洛尔联用在冠心病合并充血性心衰治疗机制中的实验研究

目的系统研究曲美他嗪与比索洛尔联用于冠心病(CHD)合并充血性心衰(CHF)的治疗效应及其作用机制。方法根据入选标准将2015.01~2016.10于内蒙古自治区人民医院就诊的CHD合并CHF患者共79例纳入研究,按双盲随机原则分为两组,即联合组(n=39例)与对照组(n=40例),进行为期12周的分类治疗实验;其中对照组仅执行包括β-Blocker、ACEI/ARB及醛固酮拮抗剂+降脂药等为基础的常规标准治疗方案,联合组则在常规治疗基础上给予曲美他嗪+比索洛尔渐进剂量下联用应用。加强治疗期随访观察,主要评价策略为:(1)以t2DE为指针行心脏彩超监测,记录2组治疗前后主要心功能指标的改变并观察24h室性心律失常、心率变化;(2)根据AHA指南比较2组治疗效果。结果 2组实验对象入组前LVEDD、LVESD、EF、HR、ARR等指标的差异性不显著(P均﹥0.05),12周实验期结束时,2组实验对象各项观察指标均较入组前改善明显(P﹤0.05及P﹤0.01);其中联合组各项指标的改善程度优于对照组(P﹤0.05);疗效分析显示,联合组治疗总有效率及显效率均高于对照组(P﹤0.05)。结论在常规治疗基础上增加曲美他嗪+比索洛尔的用药方案,其治疗作用明显增强,在冠心病合并充血性心衰治疗中建议尽早应用此方案以加快患者心功能及预后的改善进程。

国产盐酸替罗非班治疗急性冠脉综合征临床观察

急性冠脉综合征（ACS）是由各种原因导致血管内皮损伤,不稳定的动脉粥样硬化斑块破裂、诱发或激活血小板粘附聚集而引起的一组急性临床综合症,其中包括不稳定心绞痛（UA）非ST段抬高心肌梗死（NSTEMI）及ST段抬高心肌梗死（ST.EMI）这三种病症的病理基础均为不稳定的粥样硬化,都是伴发了不同程度的继发性病理改变,本篇主要讨论UA、NSTEMI、ACS的发病机制中斑块破裂、血小板聚集、血栓形成最为重要。因此,ACS的治疗关键是抗血小板治疗。

茶色素（心脑健）降血清脂蛋白（a）作用的研究

用茶色素治疗血清脂蛋白（ａ）升高（＞３０ｍｇ／ｄｌ）者６８例，每日三次，每次１２５ｍｇ，疗程１个月，并与血清脂蛋白（ａ）ｂｅ ｎｔｇ （＜３０ｍｇ／ｄｌ）者４２例对照。结果证明，茶色素对血清Ｌｐ（ａ）升高有明显的降Ｌｐ（ａ）作用，总有效率为７５％，而对血清脂蛋白（ａ）阴性者无降低Ｌｐ（ａ）作用，提示茶色素对冠心病与动脉粥样硬化有防治作用。

Cardiac evaluation of liver transplant candidates

Physicians previously thought that heart disease was rare in patients with end stage liver disease. However, recent evidence shows that the prevalence of ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy is increased in transplant candidates compared to most other surgical candidates. Investigators estimate that up to 26% of all liver transplant candidates have at least one critical coronary artery stenosis and that at least half of these patients will die perioperatively of cardiac complications. Cardiomyopathy also occurs in greater frequency. While all patients with advanced cardiac disease have defects in cardiac performance, a larger than expected number of patients have classical findings of dilated, restrictive and hypertropic cardiomyopathy. This may explain why up to 56% of patients suffer from hypoxemia due to pulmonary edema following transplant surgery. There is considerable controversy on how to screen transplant candidates for the presence of heart disease. Questions focus upon, which patients should be screened and what tests should be used. This review examines screening strategies for transplant candidates and details the prognostic value of common tests used to identify ischemic heart disease. We also review the physiological consequences of cardiomyopathy in transplant candidates and explore the specific syndrome of "cirrhotic cardiomyopathy".

APOLIPOPROTEIN E GENE POLYMORPHISMS AND RISK FOR CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN CHINESE XINJIANGUYGUR AND HAN POPULATION

Objective To examine the relationship between apolipoprotein E (Apo E) gene polymorphism and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), analyzing association of polymorphism with classical risk factors. Methods A total of 124 patients (including 84 Han population and 40 Uygur population) with angiographically verified CAD or myocardial infarction were prospectively evaluated. Data referring to hypertension, diabetes, and tobacco consump-tion were recorded. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, Apo A1 and B, and triglycerides (TG) were determined. DNA was obtained from 124 patients and 70 controls. In order to determine Apo E genotypes, DNA was PCR amplified and digested with HhaI. The genetic polymorphism of Apo E is due to three common alleles, epsilon(ε) 2, ε3, ε4, at a single autosomal gene locus. These alleles determine the six phenotypes E2/2, E3/3, E4/4, E4/2, E4/3, and E3/2. Results In Uygur population, the frequency of the ε2, ε3, and ε4 was 0.155, 0.648, and 0.197 respectively. In Han po-pulation, the frequency of the ε2, ε3, and ε4 was 0.081, 0.772, and 0.146 respectively. In the patient group, the frequency of the ε2, ε3, and ε4was 0.060, 0.758, and 0.182 respectively. In the control group, the frequency of the ε2, ε3, and ε4 was 0.193, 0.671, and 0.136 respectively. ε2 frequency of Uygur’ patients and controls was 0.050 and 0.290 respectively. Serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, TC, and TG values tended to decrease from the Apo E-4 phenotypes to Apo E-2 phenotypes. When deletion polymorphism of ε2 was compared with the common risk factors for CAD, its risk ratio (RR) is 4.38. Conclusions These studies confirm and find that Apo E phenotype distribution in Uygur population differs significantly from that in Han population in Xinjiang. CAD patients have significantly lower ε2 allele and slightly higher ε3 or ε4 allele frequency than controls, especially in Uygur population. It shows protective effects of ε2 on CAD.

Is frailty associated with short-term outcomes for elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome？

Background Frailty is a new prognostic factor in cardiovascular medicine due to the aging and increasingly complex nature of elderly patients. It is useful and meaningful to prospectively analyze the manner in which frailty predicts short-term outcomes for elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome （ACS）. Methods Patients aged 〉 65 years, with diagnosis of ACS from cardiology department and geriatrics department were included from single-center. Clinical data including geriatrics syndromes were collected using Comprehensive Geriatrics Assessment. Frailty was defined according to the Clinical Frailty Scale and the impact of the co-morbidities on risk was quantified by the coronary artery disease （CAD）--specific index. Patients were followed up by clinical visit or telephone consultation and the median follow-up time is 120 days. Following-up items included all-cause mortality, unscheduled return visit, in-hospital and recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events. Multivariable regression survival analysis was performed using Cox regression. Results Of the 352 patients, 152 （43.18%） were considered frail according to the study instrument （5-7 on the scale）, and 93 （26.42%） were considered moderately or se- verely frail （6-7 on the scale）. Geriatrics syndromes including incontinence, fall history, visual impairment, hearing impairment, constipation, chronic pain, sleeping disorder, dental problems, anxiety or depression, and delirium were more frequently in frail patients than in non-frail patients （P = 0.000, 0.031, 0.009, 0.014, 0.000, 0.003, 0.022, 0.000, 0.074, and 0.432, respectively）. Adjusted for sex, age, severity of coro- nary artery diseases （left main coronary artery lesion or not） and co-morbidities （CAD specific index） by Cox survival analysis, frailty was found to be strongly and independently associated with risk for the primary composite outcomes： all-canse mortality [Hazard Ratio （HR） = 5.393; 95% CI： 1.477-19.692, P = 0.011] and unscheduled return visit （HR - 2.832; 95% CI： 1.140-7.037, P = 0.025）. Conclusions Comprehensive Geriatrics Assessment and Clinical Frail Scale were useful in evaluation of elderly patients with ACS. Frailty was strongly and independently associated with short-term outcomes for elderly patients with ACS.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION AND SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY LESIONS

Objective To investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial dysfunction and serum homocysteine (HCY) level in patients with coronary lesions. Methods Serum HCY, serum nitric oxide (NO), plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), and circulation endothelial cell (CEC) were measured in 76 patients who received coronary angiography. Fifty-four patients with a stenosis of 50% or more at least in one coronary atery were as coronary artery disease (CAD) group. Other 22 cases with no recognizable plaque and/or stenosis were as control group. HCY level was detected using an enzyme immunoassay kit. NO concentration was measured using a nitrate reductase kit. Radio-immunoassay was applied to analyse the ET-1 level, and CEC was measured by flow cytometry. Results The levels of HCY, ET-1, and CEC in patients with coronary lesions were significantly increased in comparison with control group (P < 0.01), while NO level in CAD group was significantly lower compared with that in control (P < 0.01). Using a multivariate stepwise regression analysis, HCY level had a positive correlation with ET-1 level (r = 0.420, P < 0.05) and CECs number (r = 0.423, P < 0.05); and had a negative correlation with NO/ET-1 (r = -0.403, P < 0.05). But there was no significant correlation between HCY and NO levels. Conclusions HCY might lead to endothelial cell injury, which would provide a plausible mechanism for the relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia and development of coronary artery disease. HCY can be considered as a predictor for preli-minary or active coronary lesion.

Predictors of new-onset atrial fibrillation in elderly patients with coronary artery disease after coronary artery bypass graft

Objective To identify the factors associated with the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation （POAF） after coronary artery bypass graft （CABG） in elderly patients with coronary artery disease （CAD）. Methods A total of 81 patients with CAD who underwent CABG were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups： Group 1, without postoperative atrial fibrillation （59 patients, 74.6% men, mean age 65.8 ~ 4.0 years）; Group 2, with early new-onset atrial fibrillation after CABG （22 patients, 90.9% men, mean age 67.7 ＋ 5.4 years）. Interleukin （IL）-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein （CRP）, fibrinogen, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP）, and troponin I were studied. Results During the observation period, atrial fibrillation occurred in 27.2% cases, an average of 4.9 ±3.8 days after surgery. In group 2, the left atrium （LA） dimension was larger than in group 1 （43.9 ± 3.4 mm vs. 37.6 ±3.9 rnm, P 〈 0.001）. Patients with POAF had significantly higher IL-6 （72.7 ±60.8 pg/mL vs. 38.0 ± 34.6 pg/mL, P = 0.04）, IL-8 （11.9 ± 6.0 pg/mL vs. 7.7± 5.4 pg/mL, P = 0.01） and SOD （2462.0 ± 2029.3 units/g vs. 1515.0 ± 1292.9 units/g, P = 0.04） compared with group without POAF. The multivariate analysis showed that the odds ratio （OR） for POAF development in patients with left atrium more than 39 mm was 2.1 [95% confidence interval （CI）： 1.2-3.8, P = 0.0004], IL-6 levels more than 65.18 pg/mL-1.4 （95% Ch 1.1-2.7, P = 0.009）, IL-8 levels more than 9.67 pg/mL-1.2 （95% CI： 1.1-3.7, P ： 0.009）, SOD more than 2948 units/g-1.1 （95% Ch 1.01-2.9, P = 0.04）. Conclusions In our study, the independent predictors of postoperative atrial fibrillation after CABG in elderly patients were left atrium dimension and the increased postoperative concentration of IL-6, IL-8 and superoxide dismutase.

Predictors and in-hospital prognosis of recurrent acute myocardial infarction

Objective To investigate the contributing factors and in-hospital prognosis of patients with or without recurrent acute myocardial infarction （AMI）. Methods A total of 1686 consecutive AMI patients admitted to Peking University People＇s Hospital from January 2010 to December 2015 were recruited. Their clinical characteristics were retrospectively compared between patients with or without a recurrent AMI. Then multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the predictors of recurrent myocardial infarction. Results Recurrent AMI patients were older （69.3 ± 11.5 vs. 64.7 ± 12.8 years, P 〈 0.001） and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus （DM） （52.2% vs. 35.0%, P 〈 0.001） compared with incident AMI patients, they also had worse heart function at admission, more severe coronary disease and lower reperfusion therapy. Age （OR = 1.03, 95% CI： 1.02-1.05; P 〈 0.001）, DM （OR = 1.86, 95% CI： 1.37-2.52; P 〈 0.001） and reperfusion therapy （OR = 0.74; 95% CI： 0.52-0.89; P 〈 0.001） were independent risk factors for recurrent AMI Recurrent AMI patients had a higher in-hospital death rate （12.1% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.039） than incident AMI patients. Conclusions Recurrent AMI patients presented with more severe coronary artery conditions. Age, DM and reperfusion therapy were independent risk factors for recurrent AMI, and recurrent AM1 was related with a high risk of in-hospital death.

Clopidogrel resistance response in patients with coronary artery disease and metabolic syndrome： the role of hyperglycemia and obesity

Background Despite the proven benefits of clopidogrel combined aspirin therapy for coronary artery disease （CAD）, CAD patients with metabolic syndrome （MS） still tend to have coronary thrombotic events. We aimed to investigate the influence of metabolic risk factors on the efficacy of clopidogrel treatment in patients with CAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. Methods Cohorts of 168 MS and 168 non-MS subjects with CAD identified by coronary angiography （CAG） were enrolled in our study. MS was defined by modified Adult Treatment Panel Ⅲ criteria. All subjects had taken 100 mg aspirin and 75 mg clopidogrel daily for more than 1 month, and administered loading doses of 600 mg clopidogrel and 300 mg aspirin before PCI. Blood samples were taken 24 h after the loading doses of clopidogrel and aspirin. Platelet aggregation was measured using light transmittance aggregometry （LTA） and thrombelastography （TEG）. Clopidogrel resistance was defined as more than 50% adenosine diphosphate （ADP） induced platelet aggregation as measured by TEG. Re- sults Platelet aggregation inhibition rate by ADP was significantly lower in patients with MS as measured both by TEG （55% ＋ 31% vs. 68% ± 32%; P 〈 0.001） and LTA （29% ± 23% vs. 42% ± 29%; P 〈 0.001）. In the multivariate analysis, elderly [OR （95% CI）： 1.483 （1.047±.248）; P = 0.002], obesity [OR （95% CI）： 3.608 （1.241-10.488）; P = 0.018], high fasting plasma glucose level [OR （95% CI）： 2.717 （1.176±.277）; P = 0.019] and hyperuricemia [OR （95% CI）： 2.583 （1.095-6.094）; P = 0.030] were all statistically risk factors for clopido- grel resistance. CAD patients with diabetes and obesity were more likely to have clopidogrel resistance than the CAD patients without dia- betes and obesity [75% （61/81） vs. 43% （67/156）; P 〈 0.001]. Conclusions CAD patients with MS appeared to have poorer antiplatelet response to clopidogrel compared to those without MS. Obesity, diabetes and hyperuricemia were all significantly associated with clopido- grel resistance.

Prognostic performance of interleukin-10 in patients with chest pain and mild to moderate coronary artery lesions an 8-year follow-up study

Background Interleukin （IL）-10, IL-6 and their ratio （IL-6/IL-10） play an important role in the risk of developing coronary artery disease, and may correlate with its outcomes. Few clinical trials have investigated the prognostic impact of these factors on long-term car- diovascular events in patients presented with chest pain. Methods A prospective study was performed on 566 patients admitted with chest pain and identified mild to moderate coronary artery lesions. 1L-10, IL-6 and IL-6/IL-10 were measured. Results A total of 511 patients com- pleted the follow-up. The median follow-up time was 74 months. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a clear increase of the incidence of major adverse cardiac events during the follow-up period in patients with below-median levels of IL-10 （P = 0.006） and above-median levels of IL-6/IL-10 （P = 0.012）. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated the IL-10 levels to be strong independent predictors after adjustment for underlying confounders. Conclusions Elevated IL-10 levels are associated with a more favorable long-term prognosis in patients with chest pain and mild to moderate coronary artery lesions. IL-10 could be used for early risk assessment of long-term prognosis.

Pentraxin 3 （PTX3） promoter methylation associated with PTX3 plasma levels and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in coronary artery disease

Background Pentraxin 3 （PTX3） is expressed in the heart under inflammatory conditions and plays an important role in atherogenesis. Patients with increased PTX3 levels may suffer from higher rates of cardiac events. Regulation of specific genes by promoter methylation is important in atherogenesis. The factors influencing PTX3 levels and the association between epigenetics and PTX3 levels have not been investigated. Methods Blood samples were collected from 64 patients admitted to the Department of Cardiology, 35 who had coronary artery disease （CAD）, and 29 who were CAD-free. Plasma levels of PTX3 were measured by ELISA. PTX3 promoter methylation was evaluated via methyl-specific PCR. The severity of coronary artery lesion was evaluated by angiography. Results The level of PTX3 promoter methylation in the CAD group was 62.69% ± 20.57%, significantly lower than that of the CAD-free group, which was 72.45% ± 11.84% （P = 0.03）. Lower PTX3 promoter methylation levels in the CAD group were associated with higher plasma PTX3 concentrations （r = -0.29, P = 0.02）. Furthermore, lower PTX3 promoter methylation levels were associated with higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio （NLR） in men （r = -0.58, P = 0.002）. Conclusions The present study provides new evidence that methylation of the PTX3 promoter is associated with PTX3 plasma levels and NLR in coronary artery disease. This study also shows that modification of epigenetics by chronic inflamma- tion might be a significant molecular mechanism in the atherosclerotic processes that influence plasma PTX3 concentrations.

JNKs,insulin resistance and inflammation:A possible link between NAFLD and coronary artery disease

The incidence of obesity has dramatically increased in recent years.Consequently,obesity and associated disorders such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease constitute a serious problem.Therefore,the contribution of adipose tissue to metabolic homeostasis has become a focus of interest.In this review,we discuss the latest discoveries that support the role of lipids in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.We describe the common mechanisms(cJun aminoterminal kinases,endoplasmic reticulum stress,unfolded protein response,ceramide,lowgrade chronic inflammation)by which lipids and their derivatives impair insulin responsiveness and contribute to inflammatory liver and promote plaque instability in the arterial wall.Presenting the molecular mechanism of lipid activation of proinflammatory pathways,we attempt to find a link between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases.Describing the common mechanisms by which lipid derivatives,through modulation of macrophage function,promote plaque instability in the arterial wall,impair insulin responsiveness and contribute to inflammatory liver and discussing the molecular mechanism of lipid activation of proinflammatory pathways,the key roles played by the proliferatoractivated receptor and liver X receptorα,nuclear receptorslipid sensors that link lipid metabolism and inflammation,should be emphasized.Further studies are warranted of antiinflammatory drugs such as aspirin,antiinterleukin6 receptors,immunemodulators(calcineurin inhibitors),substances enhancing the expression of heat shock proteins(which protect cells from endoplasmic reticulum stressinduced apoptosis),and anticJun aminoterminal kinases in welldesigned trials to try to minimize the high impact of these illnesses,and the different expressions of the diseases,on the whole population.

Management and risk factor control of coronary artery disease in elderly versus nonelderly： a multicenter registry

Background Coronary artery disease （CAD） is a leading cause of death in elderly because aging is the important non-modifiable risk factors of atherosclerosis and also a predictor of poor outcomes. Underuse of guideline directed therapy may contribute to suboptimal risk factor control and worse outcomes in the elderly. We aimed to explore the management of CAD, risk factors control as well as goal attain- ment in elderly compared to nonelderly CAD patients. Methods The CORE-Thailand is an ongoing multicenter, prospective, observational registry of patients with high atherosclerotic risk in Thailand. The data of 4120 CAD patients enrolled in this cohort was analyzed comparing between the elderly （age ≥ 65 years） vs. nonelderly （age 〈 65 years）. Results There were 2172 elderly and 1948 nonelderly patients. The elderly CAD patients had higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease. The proportion of patients who received coronary revascularization was not different between the elderly and nonelderly CAD patients. Antiplatelets were prescribed less in the elderly while statin was prescribed in the similar proportion. Goal attainments of risk factor control of glycemic control, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and smoking cessation except the blood pressure goal were higher in the elderly CAD patients. Conclusions The CORE-Thailand registry showed the equity in the treatment of CAD between elderly and non-elderly. Elderly CAD patients had higher rate of goal attainment in risk factor control except blood pressure goal. The effects of goal attainment on cardiovascular outcomes will be demonstrated from ongoing cohort.

Is there any link between homocysteine and atherosclerosis？

I have read with interest the paper by Hart, et al. re- porting that homocysteine （Hey） is an independent risk fac- tor for non-culprit coronary lesions progression after 12 months of follow-up in elderly patients who has undergone percutaneous coronary stenting. Hcy-mediated increased lipid peroxidation and generation of free radicals results in in- flammation and endothelial dysfunction, which triggers atherosclerotic process. Coronary artery disease is also as- sociated with higher levels of Hcy.

Relationship between red blood cell distribution width and intermediate-term mortality in elderly patients after percutaneous coronary intervention

Background Large-scale clinical research on the relationship between red blood cell distribution width （RDW） and intermediate-term prognosis in elderly patients with coronary artery disease （CAD） is lacking. Thus, this study investigated the effects of RDW on the intermediate-term mortality of elderly patients who underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. Methods Data from 1891 patients 〉 65 years old underwent elective PCI from July 2009 to September 2011 were collected. Based on preoperative median RDW （12.3%）, the patients were divided into two groups. The low RDW group （RDW 〈 12.3%） had 899 cases; the high RDW group （RDW 〉 12.3%） had 992 cases. The all-cause mortality rates of the two groups were compared. Results Patients in the high RDW group were more likely to be female and accompanied with diabetes, had lower hemoglobin level. The mean follow-up period was 527 days. During follow-up, 61 patients died （3.2%）. The postoperative mortality of the high RDW group was significantly higher than that of the low RDW group （4.3% vs. 2.0%, P = 0.004）. After adjusting other factors, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that preoperative high RDW was significantly associated with postoperative all-cause mortality （hazard ratio： 2.301, 95% confidence interval： 1.106-4.785, P = 0.026）. Conclusions Increased RDW was an independent predictor of the increased intermediate-term all-cause mortality in elderly CAD patients after elective PCI.