阿斯匹林在早期溶栓治疗急性心肌梗死中的作用

目的：探讨阿斯匹林在早期溶栓治疗急性心肌梗死（ＡＭＩ）及预防ＡＭＩ后早期再梗死、梗死延展中的作用。方法：治疗组７２例ＡＭＩ患者急性期应用尿激酶溶栓时首剂顿服阿斯匹林３００ｍｇ，以后每日１００ｍｇ维持。对照组３０例ＡＭＩ患者急性期应用尿激酶溶栓时每日静滴丹参注射液１６ｍｌ，２周后改口服丹参片。观察２组患者早期再梗死、梗死延展、病死率发生情况及血小板计数、血小板凝聚试验和出凝血时间的变化。结果：治疗组血小板计数降低，血小板凝聚试验、出凝血时间延长，与对照组比较均有显著性差异（Ｐ均＜０．０１）；治疗组ＡＭＩ后早期再梗死、梗死延展的发生率较对照组明显减少，心脏性病死率亦明显降低（Ｐ均＜０．０１）。结论：阿斯匹林对血小板聚集和释放、血栓形成有明显抑制作用，提高了溶栓效果，同时减少了ＡＭＩ后早期再梗死及梗死延展的发生率。

青年人急性心肌梗死26例的冠状动脉造影改变

目的：研究青年人急性心肌梗死（ＡＭＩ）的冠状动脉造影术（ＣＡＧ）改变，并探讨其病因。方法：２６例４０岁以下ＡＭＩ患者，在发病后４小时～４周内行选择性ＣＡＧ，分析ＣＡＧ结果及其与冠心病危险因素的关系。结果：２６例中５例（１９％）ＣＡＧ正常，２１例（８１％）共有２９处冠状动脉（冠脉）病变，左前降支病变１５处，左回旋支病变６处，右冠状动脉病变８处；其中单支病变１４例，双支病变６例，三支病变１例。冠状动脉病变患者多危险因素阳性，特别是吸烟（１００％），且与受累血管范围呈正相关。结论：青年人ＡＭＩ病因仍以冠状动脉粥样硬化为主，冠状动脉痉挛次之。冠状动脉病变多为单支受累，且以左前降支病变居多。

中西医结合治疗对急性心肌梗死患者心功能的影响

目的：观察中西医结合治疗对急性心肌梗死（ＡＭＩ）患者心功能的影响。方法：ＡＭＩ患者５６例，在发病的前２周均按常规治疗，从第３周开始将患者随机分成中西医结合组２９例和西医组２７例，西医组治疗同前，中西医结合组每日加服中药１剂。采用二维超声心动图分别记录２组患者治疗前后心功能各项指标。结果：中西医结合组治疗后每搏输出量〔（７３．５±６．０）ｍｌ〕、每分输出量〔（５．４３±０．３４）Ｌ／ｍｉｎ〕、射血分数（０．５３±０．０９）均明显增高，舒张末期容积〔（７４．６±２３．８）ｍｌ〕和收缩末期容积〔ＥＳＶ，（３６．６±１６．８）ｍｌ〕均明显降低，与治疗前〔分别为（３９．９±５．８）ｍｌ，（３．２１±０．２８）Ｌ／ｍｉｎ，０．４６±０．０９，（８２．８±２８．２）ｍｌ和（４４．６±１８．９）ｍｌ〕比较，Ｐ均＜０．０１，与西医组治疗后〔分别为（６４．８±６．１）ｍｌ，（４．６３±０．４０）Ｌ／ｍｉｎ，０．４６±０．０９，（８８．３±２４．９）ｍｌ和（４９．６±１５．８）ｍｌ〕比较，Ｐ均＜０．０５。结论：益气活血中药在抑制左心室的进一步扩张，减少ＥＳＶ，减轻心脏变形，改善局部和整体室壁运动以及左心室收缩功能方面有明显疗效。

Stenting versus non-stenting treatment of intermediate stenosis culprit lesion in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction： a multicenter random- ized clinical trial

Background The benefit/risk ratio of stenting in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction （STEMI） patients with single vessel intermediate stenosis culprit lesions merits further study, therefore the subject of the present study. Methods and results It was a pro- spective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Between April 2012 and July 2015, 399 acute STEMI patients with single vessel disease and intermediate （40%-70%） stenosis of the culprit lesion before or after aspiration thrombectomy and/or intracoronary tirofiban （15 pg/kg） were enrolled and were randomly assigned （h 1） to stenting group （n = 201） and non-stenting group （n = 198）. In stenting group, patients received pharmacologic therapy plus standard percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） with stent implantation. In non-stenting group, pa- tients received pharmacologic therapy and PCI （thrombectomy）, but without dilatation or stenting. Primary endpoint was 12-month rate of major adverse cardiac and eerebrovascular events （MACCE）, a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction （M1）, repeat re- vascularization and stroke. Secondary endpoints were 12-month rates of all cause death, ischemia driven admission and bleeding complica- tion. Median follow-up time was 12.4 ~ 3.1 months. At 12 months, MACCE occurred in 8.0% of the patients in stenting group, as compared with 15.2% in the non-stenting group （adjusted HR： 0.42, 95% Ch 0.19-0.89, P = 0.02）. The stenting group had lower non-fatal MI rate than non-stenting group, （1.5% vs. 5.5%, P = 0.03）. The two groups shared similar cardiac death, repeat revascularization, stroke, all cause death, ischemia driven readmission and bleeding rates at 12 months. Conclusions Stent implantation had better efficacy and safety in reducing MACCE risks among acute STEMI patients with single vessel intermediate stenosis culprit lesions.

Review:Cell therapy in congestive heart failure

Congestive heart failure （CHF） has emerged as a major worldwide epidemic and its main causes seem to be the aging of the population and the survival of patients with post-myocardial infarction. Cardiomyocyte dropout （necrosis and apoptosis） plays a critical role in the progress of CHF; thus treatment of CHF by exogenous cell implantation will be a promising medical approach. In the acute phase of cardiac damage cardiac stem cells （CSCs） within the heart divide symmetrically and/or asymmetrically in response to the change of heart homeostasis, and at the same time homing of bone marrow stem cells （BMCs） to injured area is thought to occur, which not only reconstitutes CSC population to normal levels but also repairs the heart by differentiation into cardiac tissue. So far, basic studies by using potential sources such as BMCs and CSCs to treat animat CHF have shown improved ventricular remodelling and heart function. Recently, however, a few of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials demonstrated mixed results in heart failure with BMC therapy during acute myocardial infarction.

The influence of treatment modality on illness perception and secondary prevention outcomes among patients with acute myocardial infarction

Objectives:This study aims to determine if patients with acute myocardial infarction differ in illness perception and secondary prevention outcomes depending on the treatment they received.Methods:A repeated measures design was used to compare patients with acute myocardial infarction receiving three different treatment modalities:ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention,ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by thrombolytic therapy,and non ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by medication.A convenient sampling technique was used to recruit 206 patients with acute myocardial infarction who agreed to participate in the current study.Patients'illness perception,physical activity,and demographical and clinical data were collected during hospital admission and again at 6 months.Results:A total of 186 patients completed the study.Results showed that the primary percutaneous coronary intervention group perceived their illness as acute rather than chronic(P=0.034)and has lower personal control(P=0.032),higher treatment control(P=0.025),and higher perception of illness coherence(P=0.022)compared with patients receiving thrombolytic therapy and treated after non-ST segment infarction.Moreover,they report low control of their blood pressure(P=0.013)and less physical activity(P=0.001).Conclusion:The results of this study revealed that patients'treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention had negative illness perception and limited behavioral changes 6 months after hospitalization in comparison with other treatment modalities such as percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombolytic treatment.Further research is recommended to confirm this association with longer follow-up study and among different cultures.

Short-term effects of air pollution on acute myocardial infarctions in Shanghai, China, 2013-2014

Background Although particulate matter, with diameters 〈 2.5 μm （PM2.5） and 〈 10 μm （PM10）, and other pollutants have been associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, the effect of pollutants on acute myocardial infarctions （AMIs） has rarely been investigated in Asia, especially in Shanghai, China. Methods Between 1 November 2013 and 27 April 2014, 972 patients from the Pudong District, Shanghai City, were assessed by the Emergency Medical Service. A case-crossover design was used to analyze exposure to air pollution and the AMI risk. Exposures to PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide （NO2）, sulphurdioxide （SO2）, and carbon monoxide （CO） were based on the mean urban background levels. The associations among AMI admissions, the included pollutants, temperature, and relative humidity were analyzed using correlation and logistic regression. Results The urban background levels of PM2.5, PM10 and CO were associated with an increased risk of AMI, unlike NO2 and SO2 levels. The OR （95% CI） for AMI were 1.16 （1.03-1.29）, 1.05 （1.01-1.16）, 0.82 （0.75-1.02）, 0.87 （0.63-1.95）, and 1.08 （1.02-1.21） for PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO, respectively. Increases in the air quality index （AQI） were associated with more AMI occurrences. There was no correlation between fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity with AMI hospital admissions. Conclusions Short-term exposure to moderate-serious pollution levels is associated with increased risk of AMI. Increased PM2.5, PM10 and CO levels are related to increased AMI admissions.

Transradial Versus Transfemoral Approach for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Elderly Patients in China： A Retrospective Analysis

Objective To compare hospital costs and clinical outcomes between transradial intervention （TRI） and transfemoral intervention （TFI） in elderly patients aged over 65 years. Methods We identified 1229 patients aged over 65 years who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） in Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China, between January 1 and December 31, 2010. Total hospital costs and in-hospital outcomes were compared between TRI and TFI. An inverse probability weighting （IPW） model was introduced to control potential biases. Results Patients who underwent TRI were younger, less often female, more likely to receive PCI for single-vessel lesions, and less likely to undergo the procedure for ostial lesions. TRI was associated with a cost saving of CNY7495 （95%CI： CNY4419-10 420）. Such differences were mainly driven by lower PCI-related costs. TRI patients had shorter length of stay （1.9 days, 95%CI： 1.1-2.7 days）, shorter post-procedural stay （0.7 days, 95%CI： 0.3-1.1 days）, and fewer major adverse cardiac events （adjusted odds ratio = 0.47, 95%CI： 0.31-0.73）. There was no statistical significance in the incidence of post-PCI bleeding between TRI and TFI （P〉0.05）. Such differences remained consistent in clinically relevant subgroups of acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, and stable angina. Conclusion The use of TRI in patients aged over 65 years was associated with significantly reduced hospital costs and more favorable clinical outcomes.

ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the elderly

Acute coronary syndromes （ACS） are the leading causes of death in the elderly. The suspicion and diagnosis of ACS in this age group is more difficult, since typical angina is less frequent. The morbidity and mortality is greater in older age patients presenting ACS. Despite the higher prevalence and greater risk, elderly patients are underrepresented in major clinical trials fi：om which evidence based recommendations are formulated. The authors describe, in this article, the challenges in the diagnosis and management of ST elevation myocardial infarction in the elderly, and discuss the available evidence.

Non-invasive ventilation improves hemorheology status in hypoxemic patients with acute myocardial infarction after PCI

Background Hypoxemia sometimes occurs in the emergency room in the patients with acute myocardial infarction （AMI） after percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）, even in those with administration of conventional high-flow oxygen inhalation. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of non-invasive ventilation （NIV） in improving blood oxygen content and hemorheology in patients with AMI and hypoxemia. Methods This prospective study enrolled 50 consecutive eligible patients with AMI （aged 72.3 ± 9.5 years）, who had undergone PCI and been administered high-flow oxygen but still had hypoxemia. Blood was taken before NIV and at 0.5, 1, and 2 h after NIV. Blood gases, hemorheological variables including erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte aggregation, erythrocyte osmotic fragility, membrane fluidity, and oxidative stress level were measured. Results Blood PaO2 increased to normal by 1 h after NIV. Assessed hemorheological variables had all improved and plasma malondialdehyde concentration decreased significantly after 2 h of NIV. Conclusions Our data suggest that NIV can help to improve blood oxygen content, hemorheological status, and minimize plasma lipid peroxidation injury in hypoxemic patients with AMI who have undergone PCI.

Coronary collateral circulation： Effects on outcomes of acute anterior myocardial infarction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Background To investigate the effects of collateral coronary circulation on the outcome of the patients with anterior myocardial infarction （MI） with left anterior desending artery occlusion abruptly. Methods Data of 189 patients with acute anterior MI who had a primary percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） in the first 12 h from the onset of symptoms between January 2004 and December 2008 were retrospective analyzed. Left anterior descending arteries （LAD） of all patients were occluded. LADs were reopened with primary PCI. According to the collateral circulation, all patients were classified to two groups： no collateral group （n = 111）, patients without angiographic collateral filling of LAD or side branches （collateral index 0） and collateral group （n = 78）, and patients with angiographic collateral filling of LAD or side branches （collateral index 1, 2 or 3）. At one year＇ s follow-up, the occurrence of death, reinfarctlon, stent thrombosis （ST）, target vessel revascularization and readmission because of heart failure were observed. Results At one year, the mortality was lower in patients with collateral circulation compared with those without collateral circulation （1% vs. 8%, P = 0.049）, whereas there Were no differences in the occurrence of reinfarction, ST, target vessel revascularization and readmission because of heart failure. The occurrence of composite of endpoint was lower in patients with collateral circulation compared with those without collateral circulation （12% vs. 26%; P = 0.014）. Conclusions Pre-exist collateral circulation may prefigure the satisfactory prognosis to the patients with acute anterior MI after primary PCI in the first 12 h of MI onset.

Long term outcomes of saphaneous vein graft intervention in elderly patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft

Objectives To investigate the procedure characteristics and long term follow-up ofpercutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） for sa phaneous vein graft （SVG） lesions in the elderly patients. Methods From December 2005 to December 201 l, 84 graft lesions were treated percumneously. Seventeen were located at proximal anastomosis, 48 were located at SVG body, 19 were located at distal anastomosis. Pri mary endpoint was defined as major adverse cardiovascular events （MACE, composite of cardiac death, target vessel revascularization, acute myocardial infarction）. Results The graft age was 6.7 i 4.0 years. Most anastomosis lesions （80.0%） presented within one year post coro-nary artery bypass grafting （CABG）. Proximal anastomosis lesion had the lowest successful rate for PCI compared with graft body and distal anastomosis lesions （70.6% vs. 91.7%, 79.0%, P 〈 0.05）. The distal embolic protection device was used in 19.1% of patients, most frequently used in body graft PCI （29.2%, P 〈 0.01）. The diameter of the stent was smallest in distal anastomosis group （2.9 ±0.4 mm, P 〈 0.05）. The highest post dilatation pressure was required in the proximal anastomosis （17.8 ± 2.7 atm, P 〈 0.05）. The patients were followed up for 24.3 ±16.9 months. MACE occurred in 18.57% of patients. Incidence of MACE was highest among proximal anastomosis PCI （47.1% vs. body graft PCI 16.7%, distal anastomosis PCI 21.1%; P 〈 0.05）. Old myocardial infarction was the predictive factor for the poor clinical outcomes （P〈 0.04）. Conclusions PCI of SVG lesions is feasible with lower success rate. PCI of ostial graft anastomosis lesions had the lowest procedure success rate and highest MACE rate compared with graft body and distal anastomosis lesions. Old myocardial infarction was a predictive factor of poor outcomes.

Combination therapy reduces the percutaneous coronary intervention acute myocardial infarction incidence of no-reflow after primary in patients with ST-segment elevation

Background No-reflow is associated with an adverse outcome and higher mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction （STEMI） who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） and is considered a dynamic process characterized by multiple pathogenetic components. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a combination therapy for the prevention of no-reflow in patient with acute myocardial infarction （AMI） undergoing primary PCI. Methods A total of 621 patients with STEMI who underwent emergency primary PCI were enrolled in this study. Patients with high risk of no-reflow （no-flow score 〉 10, by using a no-flow risk prediction model, n = 216） were randomly divided into a controlled group （n = 108） and a combination therapy group （n = 108）. Patients in the controlled group received conventional treatment, while patients in combination therapy group received high-dose （80 mg） atorvastatin pre-treatment, intracoronary administration of adenosine （140 ~tg/min per kilogram） during PCI procedure, platelet membrane glycoprotein lib/Ilia receptor antagonist （tirofiban, 101.tg/kg bolus followed by 0.15 ~tg/kg per minute） and thrombus aspiration. Myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed to assess the myocardial perfusion 72 h after PCI. Major adverse cardiac events （MACE） were followed up for six months. Results Incidence of no-reflow in combination therapy group was 2.8%, which was similar to that in low risk group 2.7% and was significantly lower than that in control group （35.2%, P 〈 0.01）. The myocardial perfusion （A= 13） values were higher in combination therapy group than that in control group 72 h after PCI. After 6 months, there were six （6.3%） MACE events （one death, two non-fatal MIs and three revasculafizations） in combination therapy group and 12 （13.2%） （four deaths, three non-fatal MIs and five revascularizations, P 〈 0.05） in control group. Conclusions Combination of thrombus aspiration, high-dose statin pre-treatment, intmcoronary administration of adenosine during PCI procedure and platelet membrane glycoprotein Ⅱ b/Ⅲa receptor antagonist reduces the incidence of no-reflow after primary PCI in patients with acute myocardial infarction who are at high risk of no-reflow.

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.

SERUM LEVELS OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN PATIENTS WITH ANGINA PECTORIS AND ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Objective. To determine whether serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)concentrations are altered in several kinds of coronary heart disease patients. Materials and methods. Using a VEGF enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), serum VEGF concentrations were determined in antecubital venous blood of 16 patients with stable angina pectoris(SAP), 16 with unstable angina pectoris(UAP) and 16 with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) before and after thrombolytic therapy, and of 16 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers who used as controls. Results. The concentrations of serum VEGF in patients with SAP(9860±2699pg/ml) and UAP (10361±2489pg/ml) tended to be higher than those in control subjects(8044±2457pg/ml), but the differences did not reach statistical significance (P>005 for each). Before thrombolytic therapy, the concentrations of serum VEGF in patients with AMI (28592±12515pg/ml) were significantly higher than those in patients with SAP, UAP or control subjects (P<001,respectively), and correlated with synchronous serum creatine kinase (CK) and its MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) contents(r=0866,P<0001 and r=0948,P<0001;respectively). Three hours after thrombolysis, the concentrations of VEGF had fallen to 11157±3129pg/ml (P<001 vs. before thrombolytic therapy and P<005 vs.control subjects). Conclusion. The present study shows that serum concentrations of VEGF in patients with AMI are markedly elevated and that increased serum VEGF levels may be one of the most sensitive indexes in diagnosing AMI and judging reperfusion.

Establishment of a chronic left ventricular aneurysm model in rabbit

Objectives To establish a cost-effective and reproducible procedure for induction of chronic left ventricular aneurysm （LVA） in rabbits. Methods Acute myocardial infarction （AMI） was induced in 35 rabbits via concomitant ligation of the left anterior descending （LAD） coronary artery and the circumflex （Cx） branch at the middle portion. Development of AMI was co n-firmed by ST segment elevation and akinesis of the occluded area. Echocardiography, pathological evaluation, and agar i n-tra-chamber casting were utilized to validate the formation of LVA four weeks after the surgery. Left ventricular end systolic pressure （LVESP） and diastolic pressure （LVEDP） were measured before, immediately after and four weeks after ligation. D i-mensions of the ventricular chamber, thickness of the interventricular septum （IVS） and the left ventricular posterior wall （LVPW） left ventricular end diastolic volume （LVEDV） and systolic volume （LVESV）, and ejection fraction （EF） were recorded by echo-cardiography. Results Thirty one （88.6%） rabbits survived myocardial infarction and 26 of them developed aneurysm （83.9%）. The mean area of aneurysm was 33.4% ＆#177; 2.4% of the left ventricle. LVEF markedly decreased after LVA formation, whereas LVEDV, LVESV and the thickness of IVS as well as the dimension of ventricular chamber from apex to mitral valve annulus significantly increased. LVESP immediately dropped after ligation and recovered to a small extent after LVA formation. LVEDP progressively increased after ligation till LVA formation. Areas in the left ventricle （LV） that underwent fibrosis included the apex, anterior wall and lateral wall but not IVS. Agar intra-chamber cast showed that the bulging of LV wall was prominent in the area of aneurysm. Conclusions Ligation of LAD and Cx at the middle portion could induce develo pment of LVA at a mean area ratio of 33.4%＆#177;2.4%which involves the apex, anterior wall and lateral wall of the LV.

A new cooperative approach for ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients to receive timely and effective percutaneous coronary reperfusion in China

Background Acute myocardial infarction （AMI） is the most serious type of coronary heart disease. However, less than 30% of these patients have been treated effectively in China. Delayed treatment is a leading cause. This study aimed to evaluate a new regional cooperative model for improving the first medical contact-to-device time and the therapeutic effects on AMI patients. Methods A retrospective analysis of 458 ST-elevation myocardial infarction （STEMI） patients was performed. Patients were divided into two groups in terms of before or after the model were implemented. First medical contact-to-device time （FMC2D）, Door to device time （D2D）, referral time, cardiac functions, mean cost, days of hospitalization, and major adverse cardiac events （MACE） were analyzed. Results The mean FMC2D time, D2D time and referral time of the model group were significantly lower than the control group. The left ventricular ejection fraction of the model group increased but the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension decreased compared with the control group at 6 months after discharge. These re- sults also showed that mean costs and days of hospitalization were reduced. The MACE rate was reduced in the model group. Conclusions These results suggested that the new model decreased the FMC2D time, which could improve the cardiac function and therapeutic effect of STEMI patients as well as decreased the financial burden.

Early prediction of myocardial viability after acute myocardial infarction by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging

Background Identifying the transmural extent of myocardial necrosis and the degree of myocardial viability in acute myocardial infarction （AMI） is important clinically. The aim of this study was to assess myocardial viability using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging （2D-STI） in patients with AMI. Methods 2D-STI was performed at initial presentation, three days, and six months after primary percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） in 30 patients with AMI, who had a left anterior descending coronary artery （LAD） culprit lesion. In addition, 20 patients who had minimal stenotic lesions （〈 30% stenosis） on coronary angiography were also included in the control group. At six months dobutamine echocardiography was performed for viability assessment in seven segments of the LAD territory. According to the recovery of wall motion abnormality, segments were classified as viable or non-viable. Results A total of 131 segments were viable, and 44 were nonviable. Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences between the viable and nonviable segments in the peak systolic strain, the peak systolic strain rate at initial presentation, and peak systolic strain rate three days after primary PCI. Among these, the initial peak systolic strain rate had the highest predictive value for myocardial viability （hazard ratio： 31.22, P 〈 0.01）. Conclusions 2D-STI is feasible for assessing myocardial viability, and the peak systolic strain rate might be the most reliable predictor of myocardial viability in patients with AMI.

Takotsubo triggered by acute myocardial infarction：a common but overlooked syndrome？

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy （TCM） is an acute cardiac syndrome characterized by extensive, but potentially reversible, left ventricular dysfunction in the absence of an explanatory coronary obstruction. Thus, TCM is distinct from coronary artery disease （CAD） and acute myocardial infarction （AMI）. However, substantial evidence for co-existing CAD in some TCM patients exist. Herein, we take this associa-tion one step further and present a case in which the patient simultaneously suffered from AMI and TCM, and in which we believe that a primary coronary event triggered TCM. An 88-year-old female presented with chest pain. Echocardiography revealed apical akinesia with hypercontractile bases. An occluded diagonal branch with suspected acute plaque rupture was identified on the angiogram, but could not explain the extent of akinesia. Cardiac function recovered completely. Thus, this patient adhered to current diagnostic criteria for TCM. TCM is a well-known complication for other conditions associated with somatic stress. It is therefore intuitive to assume that AMI, which also associates with somatic stress and elevated catecholamine, can cause TCM. Our case illustrates that TCM and AMI may occur simulta-neously. Although causality cannot be conclusively inferred from this association, the somatic stress associated with AMI may have caused TCM in this patient.