Introduction: This study aimed to assess whether heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB (GPBB) could be used for the accurate diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Materials and methods: The study included 108 ACS patients admitted to a coronary unit within 3 h after chest pain onset. AMI was distinguished from unstable angina (UA) using a classical cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assay. H-FABP and GPBB were measured by ELISA on admission (0 h) and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after admission; their accuracy to diagnose AMI was assessed using statistical methods. Results: From 92 patients with ACS; 71 had AMI. H-FABP and GPBB had higher peak value after 3 h from admission than cTnI (P = 0.001). Both markers normalized at 24 h. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was signifi cantly greater for both markers in AMI patients than in UA patients at all time points tested, including admission (P < 0.001). At admission, the H-FABP (37%) and GPBB (40%) sensitivities were relatively low. They increased at 3 and 6 h after admission for both markers and decreased again after 24 h. It was 40% for H-FABP and approximately 2-times lower for GPBB (P < 0.01). In AMI patients, both biomarkers had similar specifi cities, positive-and negative-predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and risk ratios for AIM. Conclusion: H-FABP and GPBB can contribute to early AMI diagnosis and can distinguish AMI from UA.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are a vast global health burden. Despite common prevalence, current knowledge and investigations concerning nutritional aspects are limited. Characteristics and dynamics of nutritional risk are not entirely known for most of the entities, disease stages or treatment-induced fluctuations. This study assessed the effects of heart surgery on unintentional weight loss and nutritional risk using the NRS-2002. Methods: A noninterventional study that included patients scheduled for rehabilitation 1-6 months after heart surgery was performed. Evaluation included routine cardiovascular diagnostics and review of medical histories. Documented baseline weight was available for >85% of the patients. Nutritional risk screening was performed with the standardized NRS-2002 questionnaire. Results: A total of 145 patients were involved, with a mean age of 65.3 ± 11.5 years in a range of 23-84 years. The male to female ratio was 121:24 (83.4%:16.6%), respectively. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) was performed in 89 patients (61.4%), valvular surgery (VS) in 34 (23.4%) and combined operations (CABG + VS) in 22 (15.2%). Percentage weight loss history was 11.1 ± 3.4% in a range of 0-20.1%, while NRS-2002 was 4.77 ± 1.05 in a range of 1-6. Increased nutritional risk (NRS-2002 ≥3) was found in nearly all patients. Combined ischemic and valvular etiology displayed the highest values of NRS-2002 (5.0 ± 1.2). Patient age and creatinine showed significant correlations with NRS-2002 (Rho = 0.521, p < 0.001 and Rho = 0.335, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Increased nutritional risk was found to be frequently prevalent in patients scheduled for rehabilitation after heart surgery. Risk was found to be in relation with underlying coronary artery disease as well as with the age of patients and parameters of renal function. Routine application of nutritional risk screening appears to be a valuable clinical tool for detecting this relevant comorbidity, particularly since no connection was found with traditional anthropometrics.

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Purpose: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with calcium scoring measured with Agatston score index provides a diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with subclinical coronary plaque. We compared diagnostic accuracy of Agatston score, Framingham Risk score and multiple blood biomarkers in predicting coronary artery disease (CAD) that caused stenosis >50%. Methods:This retrospective single-center study is evaluating the role of Agatstone score in prognostication of coronary artery stenosis in patients who presented with atypical chest pain and non conclusive stress test result. The study included 368 patients with unknown coronary heart disease (mean age 62.2±7.7; 62% of females) who underwent CCTA and obtained Agatston score, in our Center from June 2012 till June 2013. Scanning was done with dual-source MDCT (Somatom Definition FLASH; Siemens Medical Solution, Munich, Germany) equipped with two 128-detector row units using the prospective or retrospective ECG-gating protocol and the mean received amount radiation was 6.85±9.74mSv. Exclusion criteria included pre-existing kidney failure (eGFR <60 mol/min/1.73m 2 ), atrial fibrillation, as well as incomplete data, Agatston score above 800. All patients with heart rate higher than 80/min received beta blocker. The mean heart rate during scanning was 60±9.3/min, and patients body mass index (BMI) 28±3.9. Patients with known cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension (80%), diabetes mellitus (29%), dyslipidemia (71%) or smoking (25%), and Framingham risk score values (mean 20±11.9) were considered. Blood biomarkers included glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid. Participants were divided in two groups, based on coronary artery stenosis greater than 50% (83; 23% of participants), and the other with stenosis smaller than 50% (285; 77% of participants). Frequency of demographic and clinical charasterics, blood biomarkers and risk factors were tested between the groups by using Chi square test and Student T test as appropriate. Relative Risk was calculated in context of developing coronary artery stenosis greater than 50% in participants with Agatston score above 100. Results:The most acccurate predictor of coronary artery stenosis greater then 50% was Agatstone Score (AUC 0.89, p<0.0001). Agatstone Score higher than 100, had relative risk for developing of coronary stenosis over 50% 15 times higher than values under 100. CRP (AUC 0.76), glucose (AUC

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