Current Issue : October-December Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 4 Articles : 6 Articles
Background: Cardiometabolic diseases present a major challenge to contemporary public health. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is widely recognized as a strong cardiovascular risk factor. However, the utility of glycated hemoglobin percentage (HbA1c) for assessing cardiovascular health in individuals without DM remains uncertain. This study examines the association between HbA1c levels and both the presence and severity of subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in non-diabetic individuals. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data from 59 patients (72.88% female; mean age: 54.82 ± 17.34 years) who exhibited no signs of acute illness or exacerbation of chronic diseases. All patients were hospitalized in the Department of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Physical Medicine at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, between June 2022 and May 2024. HbA1c level determination, central blood pressure measurement with pulse wave analysis (PWA), carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) measurement, and Doppler ultrasound of the carotid arteries and lower extremity arteries measuring the intima–media thickness (IMT) in the common carotid arteries (cIMT), common femoral arteries (cfIMT), and superficial femoral arteries (sfIMT) were performed. Spearman’s rank correlation test was applied for statistical analysis. Subsequently, a multivariate analysis model was constructed, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and smoking. Results: Among the assessed parameters, the strongest positive correlations were found between HbA1c and parameters such as cIMT (R = 0.532; p < 0.001), cfIMT (R = 0.63; p < 0.001), sfIMT (R = 0.539; p < 0.001), and cfPWV (R = 0.504; p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis model, a significant relationship was found only between HbA1c and augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 per minute (AIx75) (β = −0.286; 95% CI: −0.566, −0.006; p = 0.045). Conclusions: In summary, although HbA1c correlates with some parameters related to arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis in non-diabetic patients, most observed relationships are explained by confounding variables....
The advent of cadmium-zinc-telluride semiconductor single-photon emission computed tomography (CZT-SPECT) marks a major technological breakthrough in the field of nuclear cardiology. Based on traditional imaging of myocardial perfusion (MPI), the derived phase assessment technology has realized a leap from static blood flow assessment to dynamic evaluation of myocardial mechanical contraction synchrony. As a core analytical technology of gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI), phase analysis generates phase maps, amplitude maps, phase cine loops, and phase histograms through reconstruction to quantitatively assess left ventricular mechanical contraction synchrony. With the continuous advancement of CZT-SPECT, acquisition protocols, image reconstruction algorithms, and artificial intelligence technologies, the application scope of phase analysis in the precision diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases continues to expand. This article systematically reviews the technical principles of CZT-SPECT phase analysis, its clinical applications in various cardiovascular diseases, the current challenges, and future development directions, intending to serve as a thorough reference for clinical application and academic research....
Background and Objectives: Systemic inflammation is a key driver in the progression and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Serum calprotectin and the C-reactive protein– triglyceride–glucose index (CTI) have emerged as potential inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers; however, their association with angiographic disease severity has not been clearly defined. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum calprotectin, CTI, and the SYNTAX score (SS) in patients with stable CAD. Materials and Methods: A total of 134 patients undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled. The SS was calculated to quantify coronary lesion complexity. Patients were classified into two groups based on the results of the coronary angiogram: low SS (n = 73, SS < 23), and intermediate–high SS (n = 61, SS ≥ 23). Serum calprotectin, and CTI were obtained at baseline. Correlation analyses were performed to evaluate associations between biomarkers and SS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed the ability of these biomarkers to predict intermediate–high SS. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent associations. Results: Patients with intermediate–high SS had significantly higher levels of serum calprotectin (1009.5 vs. 505.7 ng/mL), and CTI (9.9 vs. 9.5) compared with those with low SS (all p < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated significant positive correlations between SS and, serum calprotectin (ρ = 0.488), and CTI (ρ = 0.453) (all p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed moderate association in respect to intermediate–high SS (0.739 for serum calprotectin, and 0.722 for CTI). In multivariable models, CTI showed the strongest independent association with intermediate–high SS (OR: 4.66, 95% CI: 2.00–10.84, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Serum calprotectin and CTI were significantly associated with coronary lesion complexity, as measured by the SS. These biomarkers may serve as valuable tools for identifying patients with greater CAD severity and anatomical complexity....
Background and Objectives: Elective electrical cardioversion (eECV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter is associated with a low risk of thromboembolic events (TEs) when adequate anticoagulation is provided. However, the role of routine transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) prior to eECV remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess thromboembolic outcomes in patients undergoing eECV with or without TEE guidance in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: A single-center, combined retrospective–prospective observational study including 296 adequately anticoagulated patients with AF or atrial flutter scheduled for eECV was conducted. The retrospective cohort (n = 220) underwent eECV without routine TEE, while the prospective cohort (n = 85) underwent TEE prior to eECV. The primary outcome was the occurrence of thromboembolic events (ischemic stroke or systemic embolism) within 30 days after eECV. Arrhythmia recurrence at 30 days was assessed as a secondary, exploratory outcome. Results: Among patients undergoing eECV, thromboembolic events were rare. In the retrospective cohort, 3/220 patients (1.36%) experienced a TE, whereas no events were observed in the prospective cohort (0/76). Due to the low number of events, the study was underpowered to detect meaningful differences between strategies (RR 2.44; 95% CI 0.13–46.7; p = 0.55). TEE identified left atrial appendage thrombus in 9/85 screened patients (10.6%), who were subsequently excluded from cardioversion. Arrhythmia recurrence at one month was more frequent in the prospective cohort (19.7% vs. 7.3%), likely reflecting differences in baseline clinical characteristics. Conclusions: Thromboembolic events after eECV in adequately anticoagulated patients were infrequent in this real-world cohort. While the study design limits direct comparison between strategies, the results indicate that a conventional anticoagulation-based approach without routine TEE is associated with a low risk of thromboembolic events in most patients. At the same time, the detection of left atrial appendage thrombus in a subset of patients underscores the importance of individualized risk assessment and supports the selective use of TEE in higher-risk clinical settings....
Background: An attractive practice environment for nurses is essential in cardiac hospitals; however, limited studies are known about practice environment in this setting. This study aimed to evaluate nurses’ perceptions of the practice environment in XXX cardiac hospitals. Additionally, this study seeks to identify nurse-related factors that influence nurses’ nursing practices in these hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional study utilizing a self-report questionnaire was conducted among a convenience sample of 115 nurses working in cardiac hospitals. Nurses’ perceptions of the practice environment in cardiac hospitals were explored via the Nursing Work Index. A descriptive analysis was performed in the form of categorical variables presented as frequencies and percentages, and the continuous variables were presented as the means and standard deviations. Multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the relationship between sociodemographic factors and the level of environmental practice. The level of significance was set at a p value = (p ≤ 0.05). Results: The findings indicate an overall favorable practice environment, with 56% of the nurses reporting a good level of practice in the cardiac setting. Cardiac nurses held a positive perception of their nursing practice in cardiac care settings. Overall, the participants responded well, with a total mean score of (M SD = 3.38 0.02) for their perceptions of leadership, staff support, nursing supervisory skills, participation in hospital committees, staffing and resource adequacy and collegial nurse‒physician relations. Nursing qualifications, years of experience and participation in nursing work management-related training courses were predictors of cardiac nurses’ perceptions of the practice environment (p value = p ≤ 0.014). Conclusion: Survey nurses’ perceptions of the practice environment in cardiac hospitals provide insight into nurses’ actual readiness for providing high-quality care and hence positive patient health outcomes. Cardiac nurses should be involved in decision-making authority and advocate for the workplace to better support their independence, all to improve the nursing practice environment in cardiovascular hospitals....
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the current level of clinical leadership among cardiovascular nurses and identify its associated factors. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted among 411 cardiovascular nurses from three tertiary hospitals in China between January and June 2025. Data were collected using the Clinical Leadership Scale, Nursing Work Environment Scale and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis. Results: The mean total score of clinical leadership was 63.53 ± 9.81 (mean item score 4.24 ± 0.82), indicating an above-average level. Higher scores were found in motivating others and role modelling, whereas challenging the status quo was the lowest-performing dimension. Professional title, working department, clinical leadership training, nursing work environment and general self-efficacy were independent positive influencing factors (all p < 0.05). Nursing work environment and general self-efficacy were strongly and positively correlated with clinical leadership (r = 0.738, 0.584; both p < 0.01). Conclusions: Clinical leadership among cardiovascular nurses is relatively high and is affected by both organisational and individual psychological factors. Targeted leadership training, improved nursing work environment and enhanced self-efficacy can effectively strengthen clinical leadership in cardiovascular nursing practice....
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