METHODS: In this prospective observational study, we measured BCAAs in fasting serum samples collected at inception from 2139 T2D patients free of cardiovascular-renal diseases. The study outcome was the first hospitalization for HF.
RESULTS: During 29 103 person-years of follow-up, 115 primary events occurred (age: 54.8 ± 11.2 years, 48.2% men, median [interquartile range] diabetes duration: 5 years [1-10]). Patients with incident HF had 5.6% higher serum BCAAs than those without HF (median 639.3 [561.3-756.3] vs 605.2 [524.8-708.7] μmol/L; P = .01). Serum BCAAs had a positive linear association with incident HF (per-SD increase in logarithmically transformed BCAAs: hazard ratio [HR] 1.22 [95% CI 1.07-1.39]), adjusting for age, sex, and diabetes duration. The HR remained significant after sequential adjustment of risk factors including incident coronary heart disease (1.24, 1.09-1.41); blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and baseline use of related medications (1.31, 1.14-1.50); HbA1c , waist circumference, triglyceride, and baseline use of related medications (1.28, 1.11-1.48); albuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (1.28, 1.11-1.48). The competing risk of death analyses showed similar results.
CONCLUSIONS: Circulating levels of BCAAs are independently associated with incident HF in patients with T2D. Prospective cohort analysis and randomized trials are needed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of using different interventions to optimize BCAAs levels in these patients.
METHODS: It is a prospective, open-labeled, randomized controlled study conducted at National Heart Institute, Kuala Lumpur from July 2018 to July 2019. All patients with simple and complex congenital heart diseases (CHD) with good left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] >50%) were included while those with LVEF <50% were excluded. A total of 100 patients were randomized into two groups of 50 each receiving either del Nido or BSTH cardioplegia. Primary end points were the spontaneous return of activity following aortic cross-clamp release and ventricular function between two groups. Secondary end point was myocardial injury as assessed by troponin T levels.
RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp time, return of spontaneous cardiac activity following the aortic cross-clamp release, the duration of mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit stay were comparable between two groups. Statistically significant difference was seen in the amount and number of cardioplegia doses delivered (P < .001). The hemodilution was significantly less in the del Nido complex CHD group compared to BSTH cardioplegia (P = .001) but no difference in blood usage (P = .36). The myocardial injury was lesser (lower troponin T release) with del Nido compared to BSTH cardioplegia (P = .6).
CONCLUSION: Our study showed that both del Nido and BSTH cardioplegia are comparable in terms of myocardial protection. However, single, less frequent, and lesser volume of del Nido cardioplegia makes it more suitable for complex repair.