The impact of atmospheric pressure changes on patients with acute coronary syndrome

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Changes in atmospheric pressure act as a risk factor instability of atheromatous plaque and Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Few studies have shown an association between atmosphere pressure, humidity, wind, sun rays, and cardiovascular disease. Purpose To evaluate the impact of atmospheric pressure on patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome. Methods This is a retrospective, observational, conducted in a single-center, in the period January-December 2018. We included patients with ACS, hospitalized in CCU, who performed emergency coronary angiography. The diagnosis of ACS was based on clinical, electrocardiographic, and laboratory findings. Data were collected retrospectively using patient records from archived files at the Statistics Center. Baseline demographic, clinical, and angiographic characteristics were collected. Data on atmospheric parameters, measured at the weather monitoring station, were obtained from the National Meteorological Service database (atmospheric pressure in each district of the country). The number of inhabitants for the respective districts is taken from the National Institute of Statistics. Results The number of patients involved was 1165. Significant changes in the average monthly values of atmospheric pressure were accompanied by a statistically significant increase in the number of cases with ACS, as occurred in March-April and October-November (p≤0.05). The highest number of ACS was in October 10.4%, whereas the lowest number was in January 10.6%, with a significant decreasing trend during May-June and the peak in October (p=0.04). A statistically significant relationship was observed between seasonal changes in atmospheric pressure with the number of cases with ACS. The autumn season prevails with 27.9% of the total cases, followed by the spring season with 25.6%, the summer season with 24.2%, and the winter season with 22.3%, (p = 0.04). Most cases in the cold period (November-March) occurred on days with statistically significant changes in Atmospheric Pressure. Conclusion The study notes an important relationship between seasonal, monthly changes in atmospheric pressure in relation to the frequency of cases with Acute Coronary Syndrome. </jats:sec

P1460 Atrial myxoma with atypical location in an asymptomatic patient

Abstract Introduction Primary cardiac tumours are rare. Most of them are benign, among which myxomas are the most common. Usually they occur in the left atrium (75%) but there are cases of right atrial myxomas. The majority of patients with atrial myxoma present with one or more symptoms of clinical triad of embolic events, intracardiac obstruction, or nonspecific manifestations. We report a rare case of cardiac myxoma arising from the right atrium as an accidental finding during routine medical checkup. Case report A 52 years-old woman was admitted to ambulatory care for a general checkup. At presentation, her heart rate was 82 bpm, regular and blood pressure was 150/90 mmHg. Other investigative results were normal. Her ECG showed normal sinus rhythm. She was sent for a routine echocardiography to judge for further treatment of the arterial hypertension. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed normal left ventricular ejection fraction. There was a mobile echogenic mass of nearly 6 cm2 in the right atrium, prolapsing through the tricuspid valve with mild tricuspid regurgitation without causing obstruction and protruding into the inferior vena cava (IVC). The transesophageal echocardiographic examination confirmed the presence of a mobile multilobular mass in the right atrial free wall close to the IVC origin. A total body angio-CT scan showed an intraatrial mass measuring approximately 5 × 4 cm, without infiltration of the adjacent structures, suggesting the diagnosis of myxoma. Coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries. The patient underwent median sternotomy under general anesthesia. The tumor was completely excised through a right atriotomy. The resected mass was sent for histological assessment which confirmed the diagnosis of myxoma. Discussion RA myxomas usually originate in the fossa ovalis or base of the interatrial septum, but in this case, the myxoma was implanted in the atrial inferior vena cava junction. Myxomas are usually polypoid and pedunculated tumors (approximately 83% of cases). In this report, our patient had a solitary, pedunculated mass with polypoid areas and a lobulated surface. Echocardiography remains the best diagnostic method for locating and assessing the extent of myxomas and for detecting their recurrence, with a sensitivity of up to 100%. However, transthoracic echocardiogram may not identify tumors smaller than 5 mm in diameter, and a transesophageal echocardiogram is required when there is suspicion of a very small tumor. In this case, an echocardiogram suggested the hypothesis of RA myxoma, which was confirmed by a histopathological exam. Myxomas are friable with high chance of systemic or pulmonary embolization depending on tumour location. Early diagnosis and timely surgical resection is the treatment of choice to prevent possible fatal consequences such as sudden death. Abstract P1460 Figure. Right Atrial Myxoma </jats:sec

Voltage-Gated Proton Channels as Novel Drug Targets: From NADPH Oxidase Regulation to Sperm Biology

Abstract Significance: Voltage-gated proton channels are increasingly implicated in cellular proton homeostasis. Proton currents were originally identified in snail neurons less than 40 years ago, and subsequently shown to play an important auxiliary role in the functioning of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases. Molecular identification of voltage-gated proton channels was achieved less than 10 years ago. Interestingly, so far, only one gene coding for voltage-gated proton channels has been identified, namely hydrogen voltage-gated channel 1 (HVCN1), which codes for the HV1 proton channel protein. Over the last years, the first picture of putative physiological functions of HV1 has been emerging. Recent Advances: The best-studied role remains charge and pH compensation during the respiratory burst of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase (NOX). Strong evidence for a role of HV1 is also emerging in sperm biology, but the relationship with the sperm NOX5 remains unclear. Probably in many instances, HV1 functions independently of NOX: for example in snail neurons, basophils, osteoclasts, and cancer cells. Critical Issues: Generally, ion channels are good drug targets; however, this feature has so far not been exploited for HV1, and hitherto no inhibitors compatible with clinical use exist. However, there are emerging indications for HV1 inhibitors, ranging from diseases with a strong activation of the phagocyte NOX (e.g., stroke) to infertility, osteoporosis, and cancer. Future Directions: Clinically useful HV1-active drugs should be developed and might become interesting drugs of the future. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000

Worlds of Journalism Study Wave 3 (2021-2025) Consolidated Dataset

This is the consolidated dataset of the third wave of the Worlds of Journalism Study, including 75 countries.