everal population-based studies have shown that metabolic syndrome (MeS) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular diseases, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI). [1][2][3] It has also become clear that MeS is strongly associated with systemic inflammation characterized by high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). 4,5 Although the number of deaths caused by AMI has declined over the past decade, the incidence of recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) is unchanged, 6,7 which indicates the importance of understanding the underlying risk factors that lead to secondary cardiac events. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the long-term prognostic impact of MeS in patients with AMI. Circulation Journal Vol.72, March 2008 Methods Study PatientsFrom January 2000 to December 2002, 465 patients who had an AMI without a previous MI were admitted to the coronary care unit of the National Cardiovascular Center, Japan. Four patients complicated with severe inflammatory diseases such as sepsis, pneumonia and pyelonephritis were excluded, leaving a total of 461 patients who were retrospectively analyzed in the present study. The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board. DefinitionsAMI was defined as the presence of any 2 of the following 3 conditions: typical chest pain for at least 30 min, typical electrocardiogram changes (ST elevation, ST depression, T inversion and new pathological Q waves in at least 2 adjacent leads) and elevation of serum creatine kinase level to more than twice the upper normal limit.Significant coronary artery stenosis was defined as stenosis in more than 75% of the vessels. Multivessel coronary disease was defined as a significant stenosis of 1 or more vessels other than the infarct-related artery. Left main coronary disease was considered to be double vessel involvement. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured by the Simpson's method on left ventriculography or echocardiography, and left ventricular dysfunction was defined as a LVEF <40%. Congestive heart failure at admission was diagnosed on the basis of physical examination, such as presence of moist rales on chest auscultation and Background Population-based cohort studies demonstrate that metabolic syndrome (MeS) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and related mortalities. The present study was designed to investigate the prognostic impact of MeS in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods and ResultsThe study group was 461 AMI patients without a history of previous myocardial infarction. On the basis of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, MeS was defined having at least 3 of the following 5 conditions: dysglycemia (impaired fasting glucose, current use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs), hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, hypertension and obesity. The prevalence of MeS was 37% (n=172). C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increased with the increase in the number of condit...

Higher levels of systemic PTX3 are associated with TCFA. Systemic PTX3 levels comprise a useful inflammatory marker that reflects coronary plaque vulnerability.

E LECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC findings in acute myocarditis show widespread ST deviations, conduction disturbances, and abnormal Q waves which sometimes imitate acute myocardial infarction.1-4) The incidence of abnormal Q waves ranges widely from 14 to 63% in myocarditis.1,5-7) A transient appearance of Q waves during an acute illness1,7) may indicate gross, but reversible myocardial damage. To our knowledge, previous studies give little attention to the differences in clinical characteristics between patients with Q wave myocarditis and non-Q wave myocarditis. This study was designed on the hy-From the

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