MedWorm: Heart Attack

Aspirin Is Underused By Stroke Survivors

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:00:00 +0100

NEW ORLEANS - Roughly 40% of patients who survive a stroke do not take aspirin on a daily basis, despite established guidelines that recommend its use for secondary prevention in this population, investigators announced at the 2012 International Stroke Conference. Dr. John G. Fort, Chief Medical Officer of POZEN Inc. in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, presented data from an Internet-based questionnaire that aimed to determine aspirin use in patients who had experienced a myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Elevated glucose associated with undetected heart damage

ScienceDaily Headlines — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:17:17 +0100

A new study suggests that hyperglycemia injures the heart, even in patients without a history of heart disease or diabetes. The high-sensitivity test they used detected levels of cTnT tenfold lower than those found in patients diagnosed with a heart attack. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Epinephrine overdose: Pulmonary oedema and myocardial infarction following intranasal infiltration: case report

Reactions — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:34:27 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Iopromide: Myocardial infarction: case report

Reactions — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:34:27 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Stent in the Heart

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:55:34 +0100

A 56-year-old man who was admitted with acute myocardial infarction developed severe heart failure following stent placement in the left anterior descending artery. Ventricular septal perforation (VSP) was diagnosed. Conventional septal closure was considered high risk due to severe heart and multiple organ failure. We decided to place a stent graft in the left ventricle to exclude the VSP (A and B). The stent was placed retrograde from the ascending aorta through the aortic valve into the left ventricle, and the tip was stabilized to the apex. After stent placement, right ventricular free-wall bulging decreased markedly. Cardiac catheterization showed reduction of shunting to 20%. Three years after the procedure, no increase in shunting was observed. Chest radiograph and computed tomograp...

Differences in Treatment Patterns and Outcomes Between Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Whites Treated for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Results From the NCDR ACTION Registry–GWTG

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:55:34 +0100

To the Editor: Ethnic disparities in contemporary ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) management have not been well characterized (). The National Cardiovascular Data Registry Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcome Network–Get With The Guidelines Registry (ACTION Registry–GWTG) is the largest national database including consecutive acute coronary syndrome patients from all U.S. geographic regions and therefore provides a unique opportunity to compare contemporary treatment patterns and outcomes between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white STEMI patients. (Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology)

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Potential Link Between Daily Consumption Of Diet Soft Drinks And Risk Of Vascular Events

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Individuals who drink diet soft drinks on a daily basis may be at increased risk of suffering vascular events such as stroke, heart attack, and vascular death. This is according to a new study by Hannah Gardener and her colleagues from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and at Columbia University Medical Center. However, in contrast, they found that regular soft drink consumption and a more moderate intake of diet soft drinks do not appear to be linked to a higher risk of vascular events... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Risk of new acute myocardial infarction hospitalization associated with use of oral and parenteral non-steroidal anti-inflammation drugs (NSAIDs): a case-crossover study of Taiwan's National Health Insurance claims database and review of current evidence

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The collective evidence revealed the tendency of increased AMI risk with current use of some NSAIDs. A higher AMI risk associated with use of parenteral NSAIDs was observed in the present study. Ketorolac had the highest associated risk in both oral and parenteral NSAIDs studied. Though further investigation to confirm the association is warranted, prescribing physicians and the general public should be cautious about the potential risk of AMI when using NSAIDs. (Source: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders)

Elevated glucose associated with undetected heart damage

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health) A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that hyperglycemia injures the heart, even in patients without a history of heart disease or diabetes. The high-sensitivity test they used detected levels of cTnT tenfold lower than those found in patients diagnosed with a heart attack. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Effects of n-3 fatty acids on major cardiovascular events in statin users and non-users with a history of myocardial infarction

NeLM - News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study assessed whether statins modify the effects of n-3 fatty acids on major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI). Data were analysed on patients who participated in the Alpha Omega Trial who were divided into consistent statin users (n = 3740) and consistent statin non-users (n = 413). The effects of an additional daily amount of 400 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 2 g ?-linolenic acid (ALA), or both on major cardiovascular events were evaluated. The following findings were evaluated: . 495 (13%) statin users and 62 (15%) statin non-users developed a major cardiovascular event. . In statin users, an additional amount of n-3 fatty acids did not reduc...

Renal Replacement Therapy in Cardiology Wards: Changing Trends in a Transitional Country

Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractThe leading causes of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are cardiovascular diseases, regardless of the stage of disease or method of renal replacement therapy. On the other hand, CKD is a major risk factor for cardiovascular complications after acute myocardial infarction, as well as for adverse outcome in patients with chronic heart failure. In the present study we prospectively followed‐up nephrological interventions in cardiology wards in order to determine changes in indications, treatment possibilities and outcome of patients. All patients treated at cardiology ward of the Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb and requiring renal replacement therapy from January 2003 to December 2009 were included in the investigation. Cardiology hospital unit (intensive care or ...

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Frequent diet soft drink consumption may increase cardiovascular event risk

MedWire News - Cardiology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

People who consume diet soft drinks on a daily basis have an increased risk for cardiovascular events such as stroke and myocardial infarction compared with nonconsumers, say US researchers. (Source: MedWire News - Cardiology)

MS Drug Prevented Fatal Heart Condition In Lab Study

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

A drug used to treat multiple sclerosis may also be effective at preventing and reversing the leading cause of heart attack, a new study has found. Scientists found that Gilenya, a drug recently approved in the US for treating MS, was effective at reversing the symptoms of ventricular hypertrophy in mice. Ventricular hypertrophy is a fatal cardiac disorder that can result in an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) and cardiac arrest... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Treatment-resistant and insufficiently treated depression and all-cause mortality following myocardial infarction [PAPERS]

The British Journal of Psychiatry — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions All-cause mortality following an acute myocardial infarction is greatest in patients with depression who are insufficiently treated and is a risk in patients with treatment-resistant depression. However, the risk of mortality associated with treatment-resistant depression is partly explained by comorbid disorders. Further studies are warranted to determine whether changes in depression independently predict all-cause mortality. (Source: The British Journal of Psychiatry)

The prognostic meaning of the full spectrum of aVR ST-segment changes in acute myocardial infarction

European Heart Journal — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion There is a U-shaped relationship between 30-day mortality and aVR ST level in patients presenting with anterior but not inferior ST elevation MI. (Source: European Heart Journal)

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Short Term Outcomes after Cardiac Surgery in a Jehovah's Witness Population: An Institutional Experience

Heart, Lung and Circulation — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Cardiac surgery can be performed safely in Jehovah's Witness patients with acceptable outcomes. (Source: Heart, Lung and Circulation)

The Heart Failure Society of America in 2020: A Vision for the Future

Journal of Cardiac Failure — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In 1994 Dr. Jay Cohn and other leaders in cardiovascular disease met in New York city to explore the possibility of establishing a professional society that could channel the rapidly growing interest in the nascent field of heart failure into an effective force for improving patient care. The preceding 2 decades had been marked by unprecedented insights into the underlying pathophysiology of cardiac dysfunction that were paralleled by therapeutic advances that, for the first time, were shown to clearly improve outcomes in heart failure patients. At the same time, heart failure prevalence was rapidly increasing throughout the world because of the aging of the population, improved survival of patients with myocardial infarction and other cardiac conditions, and inadequate treatment of common...

Predictors and time trends in clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitor coprescription with low‐dose acetylsalicylic acid

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionClopidogrel and PPI coprescription with low‐dose ASA increased markedly between 2000–2001 and 2006–2007; however, many patients on low‐dose ASA did not receive the recommended coprescriptions at the end of the study period. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety)

An artificial neural network to safely reduce the number of ambulance ECGs transmitted for physician assessment in a system with prehospital detection of ST elevation myocardial infarction

Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our ANN had an excellent ability to predict STEMI and the need of acute PCI in ambulance ECGs, and has a potential to safely reduce the number of ECG transmitted to the CCU by almost two thirds. (Source: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine)

Genetic variation in fatty acid elongases is not associated with intermediate cardiovascular phenotypes or myocardial infarction

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: S Aslibekyan, M K Jensen, H Campos, C D Linkletter, E B Loucks, J M Ordovas, R Deka, E B Rimm & A Baylin (Source: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

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Preoperative Cardiac Evaluation and Perioperative Cardiac Therapy in Patients Undergoing Open Surgery for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Effects on Cardiovascular Outcome

Annals of Vascular Surgery — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: These data suggest a significant benefit of an intensive cardiac preoperative evaluation in reducing the incidence of perioperative and postoperative cardiac morbidity and mortality. (Source: Annals of Vascular Surgery)

Cardiac O-GlcNAc signaling is increased in hypertrophy and heart failure

Physiological Genomics — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Reversible protein O-GlcNAc modification has emerged as an essential intracellular signaling system in several tissues, including cardiovascular pathophysiology related to diabetes and acute ischemic stress. We tested the hypothesis that cardiac O-GlcNAc signaling is altered in chronic cardiac hypertrophy and failure of different etiologies. Global protein O-GlcNAcylation and the main enzymes regulating O-GlcNAc, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), O-GlcNAcase (OGA), and glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) were measured by immunoblot and/or real-time RT-PCR analyses of left ventricular tissue from aortic stenosis (AS) patients and rat models of hypertension, myocardial infarction (MI), and aortic banding (AB), with and without failure. We show here that global O-GlcNAcylation wa...

CD36 overexpression predisposes to arrhythmias but reduces infarct size in spontaneously hypertensive rats: gene expression profile analysis

Physiological Genomics — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CD36 fatty acid translocase plays a key role in supplying heart with its major energy substrate, long-chain fatty acids (FA). Previously, we found that the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) harbors a deletion variant of Cd36 gene that results in reduced transport of long-chain FA into cardiomyocytes and predisposes the SHR to cardiac hypertrophy. In the current study, we analyzed the effects of mutant Cd36 on susceptibility to ischemic ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial infarction in adult SHR-Cd36 transgenic rats with wild-type Cd36 compared with age-matched SHR controls. Using an open-chest model of coronary artery occlusion, we found that SHR-Cd36 transgenic rats showed profound arrhythmogenesis resulting in significantly increased duration of tachyarrhythmias (207 ± 48 s ...

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease and its associated risk factors: the first report from iran using both microalbuminuria and urine sediment.

Archives of Iranian Medicine — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: CKD and its main risk factors are common and represent a definite health threat in this region of Iran. Using and standardizing less expensive screening tests in low resource countries could be a good alternative that may improve the outcome through early detection of CKD. PMID: 22292573 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Archives of Iranian Medicine)

Diet soda linked to stroke, heart attack

Health News - UPI.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:33:56 +0100

MIAMI, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Drinking diet soft drinks on a daily basis might increase the risk stroke, heart attack and vascular death, U.S. researchers said. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

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Statins Work As Well On Females As Males

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0100

Statins given to female patients are as effective in preventing the occurrence of cardiovascular events as they are for men, researchers from Boston and New York reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Cardiovascular events include stroke, heart attack, and angina. William J. Kostis, Ph.D., M.D., from Harvard Medical School, and team set out to determine what impact statins might have on reducing cardiovascular event risk in male and female patients. They gathered and analyzed data on 18 clinical trials which had gender-specific outcomes... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Myocardial regeneration by transplantation of modified endothelial progenitor cells expressing SDF‐1 in a rat model

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:52:29 +0100

Conclusionintramyocardial application of lentiviral infected EPCs is associated with a significant improvement of myocardial function after infarction, in contrast to an intracoronary application. Histological results revealed a significant augmentation of neovascularization, lower collagen content, higher numbers of inflammatory cells and remarkable alterations of apoptotic/proliferative processes in infarcted areas after cell transplantation.© 2012 The Authors Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine © 2012 Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine/Blackwell Publishing Ltd (Source: Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine)

Are diet soft drinks bad for you?

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Springer) Individuals who drink diet soft drinks on a daily basis may be at increased risk of suffering vascular events such as stroke, heart attack, and vascular death. However, in contrast, it was found that regular soft drink consumption and a more moderate intake of diet soft drinks do not appear to be linked to a higher risk of vascular events. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Shocking Heart Deaths: What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest

WebMD Health — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

WebMD discusses sudden cardiac arrest, including causes, screening, and how it differs from a heart attack. (Source: WebMD Health)

Myofibroblasts cause heterogeneous Cx43 reduction and are unlikely to be coupled to myocytes in the healing canine infarct

AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, an increase of myofibroblasts in the infarcted heart causes heterogeneous Cx43 levels, possibly as a result of the release of IL-1β and decreased cell-cell communication, which leads to conduction abnormalities following MI. (Source: AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology)

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Subtotal nephrectomy plus coronary ligation leads to more pronounced damage in both organs than either nephrectomy or coronary ligation

AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study demonstrates the existence of more heart and more kidney damage in a new model of combined CKD and HF than in the individual models. Such enhanced damage appears to be separate from systemic hemodynamic changes. Reduced nitric oxide availability may have played a role in both worsened glomerulosclerosis and cardiac diastolic function and appears to be a connector in the cardiorenal syndrome. (Source: AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology)

Creating Cardiac Muscle Cells [Lab Reports]

JAMA — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: JAMA)

Long-term survival of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy treated by coronary artery bypass grafting versus medical therapy.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:20:40 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Among a propensity-matched, risk-adjusted, observational cohort of patients with coronary artery disease, left ventricular ejection fraction less than 0.35, and no left main disease of greater than 50%, CABG is associated with a survival advantage over MED through 10 years of follow-up. PMID: 22269720 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Impact of preoperative Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use on clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:20:13 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between preoperative ACEi therapy and adverse in-hospital outcomes or long-term survival after CABG. Preoperative ACEi therapy appears to be safe in patients undergoing CABG. PMID: 22269723 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Estimating Outcomes of Astronauts with Myocardial Infarction in Exploration Class Space Missions

Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:55:03 +0100

(Source: Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine)

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10 Often-Missed Signs of Heart Attack in Women - Via A Viral Video

Forbes.com Healthcare News — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:52:11 +0100

Making the viral rounds of Facebook, Twitter, Email, and good old non-virtual word of mouth is "Just a Little Heart Attack" - a hilarious video produced for the American Heart Association (AHA) showing a typical overworked, stressed out modern super mom having a heart attack while trying to to cope with the pressures of work and motherhood. The video, a cornerstone of the AHA's new Go Red for Women campaign, does a great service in highlighting how different heart attack symptoms may appear in women and how often women ignore them because they're not the traditional signs always depicted in movies and warning materials. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)

MS drug prevented fatal heart condition in lab study

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Manchester) A drug used to treat multiple sclerosis may also be effective at preventing and reversing the leading cause of heart attack, a new study has found. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Honey Don’t: grayanotoxins, sex, and affairs of the heart

The Poison Review — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:39:15 +0100

3.5 out of 5 stars Mad-Honey Sexual Activity and Acute Inferior Myocardial Infarctions in a Married Couple. Yarlioglues M et al. Tex Heart Inst J 2011;38:577-80. Full text Mad honey – produced from nectar of Rhododendron ponticum - contains grayanotoxins, cyclic hydrocarbons that have two main toxic effects: They bind to sodium channels and maintain them in an open state. They activate the vagus nerve, causing bradycardia and hypotension. Symptoms typically begin within 4 hours of ingestion. Mild toxicity causes dizziness, while more severe intoxication can manifest as impaired consciousness, syncope, and AV block. Mad honey is often consumed for its purported aphrodisiac effects. This interesting report describes and middle-aged married couple who consumed 1 tablespoon of m...

ACE Inhibition Prevents Diastolic Ca2+ Overload and Loss of Myofilament Ca2+ Sensitivity after Myocardial Infarction.

Current Molecular Medicine — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:18:11 +0100

In conclusion, early therapy with delapril after MI preserved the normal contraction/relaxation cycle of surviving cardiomyocytes with multiple direct effects on key intracellular mechanisms contributing to preserve cardiac function. PMID: 22280358 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Current Molecular Medicine)

Resting heart rate and the risk of death and cardiovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Diabetologia — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:52:22 +0100

Conclusions/interpretation Among patients with type 2 diabetes, a higher resting heart rate is associated with an increased risk of death and cardiovascular complications. It remains unclear whether a higher heart rate directly mediates the increased risk or is a marker for other factors that determine a poor outcome. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory ArticlePages 1-8DOI 10.1007/s00125-012-2471-yAuthors G. S. Hillis, The George Institute for Global Health, King George V Building, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2050, AustraliaM. Woodward, The George Institute for Global Health, King George V Building, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2050, AustraliaA. Rodgers, The George Institute for Global Health, King George V Building, Royal Prince Alfred H...

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What may be happen after an organophosphate exposure: Acute myocardial infarction?

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:18:44 +0100

Abstract: The increase in accidental organophosphate poisoning as well as the rise in the number of cases of suicide attempts with organophosphate compounds is due to primarily to the widespread use of these compounds in agriculture. Organophosphates are anti-acetycholinesterase agents and their toxicity affects many organs, including the pancreas, liver and heart. Cardiac complications often accompany poisoning with these compounds and may be serious and often fatal. However, little is known about the myocardial infarction risk associated with exposure to pesticides. Herein, a rare case of acute myocardial infarction due to acute exposure to organophosphate compound is documented with electrocardiogram, enzyme and clinical characteristics in this report. (Source: Journal of Forensic and L...

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 in the Early Diagnosis and Risk Stratification of Patients with Acute Chest Pain [Proteomics and Protein Markers]

Clinical Chemistry — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: GDF-15 predicts all-cause mortality in unselected patients with acute chest pain independently of and more accurately than hs-cTnT and BNP. However, GDF-15 does not seem to help in the early diagnosis of AMI. (Source: Clinical Chemistry)

Prometheus’s heart: what lies beneath

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:50:29 +0100

ConclusionsA heart attack kills off many cells in the heart. Parts of the heart become thin and fail to contract properly following the replacement of lost cells by scar tissue. However, the notion that the same adult cardiomyocytes beat throughout the lifespan of the organ and organism, without the need for a minimum turnover, gives way to a fascinating investigations. Since the late 1800s, scientists and cardiologists wanted to demonstrate that the cardiomyocytes cannot be generated after the perinatal period in human beings. This curiosity has been passed down in subsequent years and has motivated more and more accurate studies in an attempt to exclude the presence of renewed cardiomyocytes in the tissue bordering the ischaemic area, and then to confirm the dogma of the heart as termina...

Combination of angiographic and clinical characteristics for the prediction of clinical outcomes in patients undergoing unprotected left main coronary artery stenting

Clinical Research in Cardiology — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:53:44 +0100

Conclusions For adequate risk assessment in ULMCA patients, consideration of both comorbidities and coronary anatomic complexity, is essential. A combination of angiographic and clinical risk scores improves the prognostic value for the prediction of 1-year MACE risk and is superior to stand-alone scores. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperPages 1-9DOI 10.1007/s00392-012-0417-5Authors Jan-Malte Sinning, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, GermanyViktoria Stoffel, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, GermanyEberhard Grube, M...

Heart attack deaths fall

BHF National News — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100

But it's not all good news, says our Medical Director in a new blog (Source: BHF National News)

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Clinical Significance of the Clopidogrel-Proton Pump Inhibitor Interaction After Peripheral Endovascular Intervention

Journal of Vascular Surgery — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:25:16 +0100

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of concurrent PPI and clopidogrel administration on outcomes after peripheral endovascular interventions. (Source: Journal of Vascular Surgery)

Dose-Related Effect of Statins in Venous Thrombosis Risk Reduction

Journal of Vascular Surgery — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:25:15 +0100

Antiplatelet therapy and statin therapy are associated with reductions in the occurrence of venous thromboembolisim (VTE) with a dose related response of statins. Many of the same inflammatory mediators are elevated in patients with atherosclerosis and venous thrombosis (van Aken BE et al. Thromb Haemost 2000;83:536-9, and Sorensen HT. Lancet 2007;370:1773-9). Patients with a diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism have higher risk of cardiovascular events over the next 20 years. In addition, patients with myocardial infarction or stroke have an increased risk of VTE within 3 months of diagnosis (Sorensen HT et al. J Thromb Haemost 2009;7:521-528) and patients with the metabolic syndrome and those with elevated levels of low density lipoprotein are also at increased ris...

Fried foods not a heart health risk if you use the right oils, say researchers

NaturalNews.com — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

A common dietary fallacy among many people, resulting from misinformation in media outlets, is fear of fats. If you still harbor lingering anxieties about consuming any type of oil for fear you will have a heart attack, fear no more. A recent study in Spain found that... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

Use of aspirin questioned as primary prevention for CVD

Drug Topics - Pharmacy News — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Aspirin prophylaxis in people without prior cardiovascular disease does not appear to reduce cardiovascular death or cancer mortality, however it was associated with reductions in nonfatal myocardial infarction, according to the results of a meta-analysis published online January 9 in the Archives of Internal Medicine. (Source: Drug Topics - Pharmacy News)

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Life‐Space Mobility in Mexican Americans Aged 75 and Older

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionOlder Mexican Americans had restricted life‐space, with approximately 80% limited to their home or neighborhood. Older age, female sex, stroke, high depressive symptoms, BMI of 35 kg/m2 or greater, and ADL disability were related to less life‐space. Future studies are needed to examine the association between life‐space and health outcomes and to characterize the trajectory of life‐space over time in this population. (Source: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society)

Age Patterns of Incidence of Geriatric Disease in the U.S. Elderly Population: Medicare‐Based Analysis

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionThe developed computational approaches applied to the nationally representative Medicare‐based data sets allow reconstruction of age patterns of disease incidence in the U.S. elderly population at the national level with unprecedented statistical accuracy and stability with respect to systematic biases. (Source: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society)

How can you mend a broken heart?

Health Facts and Fears — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking. These have long been recognized as major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Now, a study just published in the New England Journal of Medicine starkly demonstrates just how significantly these factors increase a person’s risk of stroke or heart attack. (Source: Health Facts and Fears)

Heart Attack Deaths Plummet in Three EU NationsHeart Attack Deaths Plummet in Three EU Nations

Medscape Today Headlines — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:39:01 +0100

New statistics from Denmark, England, and Poland show a roughly 50% drop in deaths due to acute AMI in recent decades. Heartwire (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Massive decline in deadly heart attacks

NHS News Feed — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:50:00 +0100

Conclusion The strengths of this study lie in its very large size and its complete national coverage. One possible limitation is its reliance on the accuracy of routine data and diagnosis codes used from English hospitals, although, as the authors point out, research has shown high accuracy rates for this type of hospital data. It should be noted that although the study shows a fall in heart attacks and also in death rates among heart attack patients, it does not tell us the precise causes of either. The fall in heart attacks is likely to be linked to healthier lifestyles, earlier detection and a better management of risk factors such as high blood pressure in people at risk. Also, the study only examined deaths from heart attacks and the definition of this has changed over the years, so t...

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Protective effects of trimetazidine on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells viability in an ex vivo model of hypoxia and in vivo model of locally myocardial ischemia

Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology -- Medical Sciences -- — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:50:01 +0100

Summary Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential for cardiac repair following myocardial injury, but this approach is limited by their poor viability after transplantation. The present study was to investigate whether trimetazidine (TMZ) could improve survival of MSCs in an ex vitro model of hypoxia, as well as survival, differentiation, and subsequent activities of transplanted MSCs in rat hearts with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MSCs at passage 3 were examined for their viability and apoptosis under a transmission electron microscope, and by using flow cytometry following culture in serum-free medium and exposure to hypoxia (5% CO2, 95% N2) for 12 h with or without TMZ. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n=10 each group), including g...

Diet Soft Drink Consumption is Associated with an Increased Risk of Vascular Events in the Northern Manhattan Study

Journal of General Internal Medicine — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:46:57 +0100

CONCLUSIONS Daily diet soft drink consumption was associated with several vascular risk factors and with an increased risk for vascular events. Further research is needed before any conclusions can be made regarding the potential health consequences of diet soft drink consumption. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ResearchPages 1-7DOI 10.1007/s11606-011-1968-2Authors Hannah Gardener, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Clinical Research Building, 1120 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33136, USATatjana Rundek, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Clinical Research Building, 1120 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33136, USAMatthew Marke...

Heart attack deaths in England drop by half

USATODAY.com Health — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:19:27 +0100

British researchers say the death rate from heart attacks in England has dropped by half in the last decade. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

AMI mortality fell by half over last decade

MedWire News - Cardiology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:08:40 +0100

The rate of mortality after acute myocardial infarction in the UK has halved over the last decade, say researchers in the British Medical Journal. (Source: MedWire News - Cardiology)

Study: Optimal heart health starts early

USATODAY.com Health — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:08:06 +0100

People who reach midlife without developing high blood pressure or diabetes are much less likely to have a heart attack or stroke by age 80. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

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Low Levels of Circulating Troponin as an Intermediate Phenotype in the Pathway to Heart Failure⁎

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:57:11 +0100

The current indications for measurement of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) primarily focus on diagnosis and risk stratification in patients with suspected myocardial infarction (MI). Recently, highly sensitive assays for cTnT and cTnI have been developed that can detect troponin concentrations ∼10-fold lower than is possible with assays currently in use in the United States. These assays improve sensitivity for the detection of MI, particularly early after symptom onset, at a cost of decreased specificity (). Importantly, the ability to detect very low circulating troponin levels with these assays has opened the door for many additional potential applications for troponin measurement, both for clinical and for research purposes. With the highly sensitive cTnT (hs-...

Prevention of Sudden Death for Patients With Cardiomyopathies: Another Step Forward⁎

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:57:11 +0100

It has now been >30 years since the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was introduced to the cardiovascular community for the prevention of sudden cardiac death (). Perhaps it is no longer common knowledge that the defibrillator was conceived and initially developed >40 years ago by Drs. Michel Mirowski and Morton Mower, not in an eminent medical institution with the robust support of industry and the National Institutes of Health, but rather in the basement of a small, private hospital (Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland), initially with no formal funding. This entirely novel concept was initially met with substantial skepticism and even antagonism (), but eventually moved forward, driven by the vision of Mirowski and Mower, until it became the acknowledged treatment to prevent...

Ruptured Aneurysm of the Sinus of Valsalva: Insights From Magnetic Resonance First-Pass Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:57:11 +0100

A 58-year-old man presented with anterior non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Echocardiography showed a large pericardial effusion that was drained and found to be hemorrhagic. Angiography revealed “unobstructed” coronary arteries, whereas contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed some extravasation of contrast suggestive of a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (A, arrows). Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) was performed, visualizing a structure adjacent to the anterior wall. First-pass perfusion demonstrated its communication with the aortic root but no extravasation of contrast into the pericardial space (C, arrow, Online Video 1). There was also a small anterior transmural scar. During cardiac surgery, a small, closed dimple deep in a recess immediately ...

First Experience in Humans Using Adipose Tissue–Derived Regenerative Cells in the Treatment of Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:57:11 +0100

In preclinical animal models of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), administration of freshly isolated adipose tissue–derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) immediately after the AMI improved left ventricular (LV) function and myocardial perfusion (). The predominant working mechanism of ADRC therapy in AMI is believed to be through paracrine release of antiapoptotic, immunomodulatory, and proangiogenic factors. These factors evoke cardiomyocyte salvage and stimulate neoangiogenesis in the infarct border zone and eventually result in reduced infarct scar formation and adverse cardiac remodeling (). ADRCs comprise, among other cells, immune-competent cells, endothelial progenitor cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. The amount of these mesenchymal stem cells in freshly isolated adipose tissue di...

Heart attack death rate halved in ten years

Nursing in Practice — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:13:48 +0100

The number of people dying from heart attacks in England has halved during the past decade read more (Source: Nursing in Practice)

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Heart attack risk factors in mid-life affect lifetime risk

CTV Health — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:59:27 +0100

Just because you're not considered at risk of a heart attack or a stroke in middle age doesn't mean your lifetime risk is low, a new study confirms. (Source: CTV Health)

Heart attack deaths have halved

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:12:12 +0100

The death rate from heart attacks in England has halved in the last decade, says an Oxford University study. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

Risk Of Surgical Complications May Be Reduced By Limiting Protein Or Certain Amino Acids Before Surgery

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0100

Limiting certain essential nutrients for several days before surgery - either protein or amino acids - may reduce the risk of serious surgical complications such as heart attack or stroke, according to a new Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) study. The study appears in the January 25, 2012 issue of Science Translational Medicine... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Tranexamic acid for upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:18:08 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Considering the internal and external validity of the evidence, tranexamic acid cannot be recommended for routine use. Additional trials in which tranexamic acid is used in combination with the currently recommended interventions are required. PMID: 22258969 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)

Data For Adipose Stem Cell Heart Attack Trial Published In JACC

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Cytori Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CYTX) has announced the publication of previously reported six-month outcomes from APOLLO, the Company's European clinical trial evaluating adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (heart attack or AMI), as Research Correspondence in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Risk for Heart Attack, Stroke May Be Underestimated

MedicineNet Cholesterol General — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Title: Risk for Heart Attack, Stroke May Be UnderestimatedCategory: Health NewsCreated: 1/26/2012 11:01:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 1/26/2012 (Source: MedicineNet Cholesterol General)

Use of aspirin questioned as primary prevention for CVD

Drug Topics - Top News — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

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Determinants of the decline in mortality from acute myocardial infarction in England 2002 and 2010

NeLM - News — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: BMJ Area: News Declines have been observed in population based mortality rates from coronary heart disease and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in many developed countries, including England, since the 1970s. Since 1998 it has been possible to link routinely collected hospital and mortality data for England. Using such a linked dataset, the authors of this paper in the BMJ report trends in event rate and case fatality for AMI and examine the relative contributions of changes in these rates to changes in mortality from AMI by sex and age between 2002 and 2010 in England. Routine hospital and mortality data were analysed for 840,175 people of all ages, admitted to hospital for AMI or who died suddenly from AMI. The main outcome measures were AMI event, 30 day case fatali...

Right intra‐atrial catheter placement for hemodialysis in patients with multiple venous failure

Hemodialysis International — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of direct right atrial catheter insertion for hemodialysis in patients with multiple venous access failure. We retrospectively evaluated the charts of 27 patients with multiple venous access failure who had intra‐atrial dialysis catheter placement between October 2005 and October 2010 in our clinic. Permanent right atrial dialysis catheters were placed through a right anterior mini‐thoracotomy under intratracheal general anesthesia in all patients. Demographics of the cases, the patency rates of hemodialysis via atrial catheterization, existence of any catheter thrombosis, and catheter‐related infections were documented and used in statistical analysis. Seventeen women (63%) and 10 men (37%) with the mean age of...

Megakaryocyte-specific RhoA deficiency causes macrothrombocytopenia and defective platelet activation in hemostasis and thrombosis

Blood — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we analyzed the in vitro and in vivo consequences of megakaryocyte- and platelet-specific RhoA gene deletion in mice. We found a pronounced macrothrombocytopenia in RhoA-deficient mice, with platelet counts of approximately half that of wild-type controls. The mutant cells displayed an altered shape but only a moderately reduced life span. Shape change of RhoA-deficient platelets in response to G13-coupled agonists was abolished, and it was impaired in response to Gq stimulation. Similarly, RhoA was required for efficient secretion of α and dense granules downstream of G13 and Gq. Furthermore, RhoA was essential for integrin-mediated clot retraction but not for actomyosin rearrangements and spreading of activated platelets on fibrinogen. In vivo, RhoA deficiency result...

Use of aspirin questioned as primary prevention for CVD

Modern Medicine — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

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Changes in treatment and mortality of acute myocardial infarction in Estonian tertiary and secondary care hospitals in 2001 and 2007

BMC Research Notes — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: AMI treatment improved in both types of hospitals, while the improvement was more pronounced in tertiary care. Still, better treatment did not result in a significantly lower mortality. Higher age and cardiovascular risk are posing a challenge for AMI treatment. (Source: BMC Research Notes)

Association of Plasma Phospholipid Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids with Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study.

Circulation — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: In older adults, higher circulating total long-chain n-3 PUFA and DHA levels were associated with lower risk of incident AF. These results highlight the need to evaluate whether increased dietary intake of these fatty acids could be effective for primary prevention of AF. PMID: 22282329 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Circulation)

Relationship of urocortin-2 with systolic and diastolic functions and coronary artery disease: an observational study.

Anadolu Kardiyol Der... — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: Ucn-2 is elevated in mild to moderate SD. But, DD (impaired relaxation pattern), or CAD (without myocardial infarction) seems to have no effect on Ucn-2 hormone levels. PMID: 22281790 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Anadolu Kardiyol Der...)

Changes in BNP, hs-CRP and TIMI risk index with addition of tirofiban during primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute STEMI: a prospective observational cohort study.

Anadolu Kardiyol Der... — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: It was concluded at the end of them PCI application in STEMI that the addition of tirofiban treatment in patients with ≥TIMI 2 flow and anterior location MI could decrease the expected rise in BNP and CRP values. PMID: 22281789 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Anadolu Kardiyol Der...)

Survival of patients with well-developed collaterals undergoing CABG or medical treatment: An observational case-controlled study.

Anadolu Kardiyol Der... — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference regarding the survival rates in patients with well-developed coronary collaterals proceeding with CABG or medical treatment. PMID: 22281787 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Anadolu Kardiyol Der...)

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Dual or Mono Antiplatelet Therapy for Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Stroke — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Dual antiplatelet therapy appears to be safe and effective in reducing stroke recurrence and combined vascular events in patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack as compared with mono therapy. These results need to be tested in prospective studies. PMID: 22282894 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Stroke)

Heart attack deaths halve in eight years... due to fewer smokers and better care

the Mail online | Health — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:03:03 +0100

Improvements to diet and general health – which lead to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels – have also had an impact, say experts. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Will you have a heart attack or stroke?

ScienceDaily Headlines — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:23:23 +0100

Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke may be worse than you think. Currently, risk is assessed by projecting 10 years ahead. New research shows a young or middle-aged adult at low risk in the short term may be at high risk in the long term, if they have only one risk factor. This is the first study to examine the lifetime risk of heart disease in white and black men and women. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Risk for Heart Attack, Stroke May Be Underestimated

WebMD Health — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:02:02 +0100

The method doctors have been using to determine men and women's risk for heart disease could be underestimating people's future odds of heart attack and stroke. (Source: WebMD Health)

Dopamine D1 Receptor Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Myocardial Infarction

DNA and Cell Biology — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:48:32 +0100

DNA and Cell Biology , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: DNA and Cell Biology)

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Limiting protein or certain amino acids before surgery may reduce risk of surgical complications

ScienceDaily Headlines — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:31:31 +0100

Limiting certain essential nutrients for several days before surgery -- either protein or amino acids -- may reduce the risk of serious surgical complications such as heart attack or stroke, according to a new study. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Approach to Assessing Myocardial Perfusion in Rats Using Static [13N]-Ammonia Images and a Small-Animal PET

Molecular Imaging and Biology — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:07:46 +0100

Conclusions The straightforward procedure described here (similar to those commonly used in clinical routine) was sufficient to yield statistically significant perfusion differences between the treated and untreated animals despite the small sample size. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Brief ArticlePages 1-5DOI 10.1007/s11307-011-0538-7Authors Juan José Vaquero, Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911 Leganés, Madrid, SpainDong-Wei Gao, Center for Molecular and Functional Imaging, University of California San Francisco, 185 Berry Street, Suite 350, 94107 San Francisco, CA, USACarmen García-Villaba, Unidad de Medicina y Cirugía Experimental, Hospital General Universitario G...

Fried food study does not reflect UK diet

NHS News Feed — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0100

Conclusion This study found no association between how often people ate fried food and their risk of coronary heart disease or death from any cause in a large Spanish cohort. This study has strengths, including using a valid method of assessing diet, a large sample size and long follow-up time, but also has significant limitations. The following limitations should be considered when interpreting the findings of this study: The study looked at frying using olive oil or sunflower oil in the context of a Mediterranean diet. The authors make the important point that frying with other types of fats or reusing oils several times may still be harmful. Reusing oils is common in fast food preparation in the UK, and so this study does not show that consuming this type of food is not linked to hea...

Heart attack deaths

BHF National News — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Our new research shows heart attack death rates are falling - but the hard work needs to continue (Source: BHF National News)

Commentary: fried food may not be all bad

Telegraph Health — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:46:59 +0100

Eating food fried in olive or sunflower oil is not linked to heart disease or premature death, a study has found. Here is the BMJ's editorial on the findings: (Source: Telegraph Health)

Strategies beyond genome-wide association studies for atherosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:08:16 +0100

Authors: Maouche S, Schunkert H Abstract Atherosclerotic diseases, including coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI), are the leading causes of death in the world. The genetic basis of CAD and MI, which are caused by multiple interacting endogenous and exogenous factors, has gained considerable interest in the last years as genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified many new susceptibility loci for CAD and MI, and the underlying genes provide new insights into the genetic architecture of these diseases. Here we summarize the recent findings from GWASs of atherosclerosis and discuss their functional and biological implications. We also discuss the different post-GWAS strategies that are currently used for refining the location of causal variants, un...

[Myocardial infarction due to left main occlusion in a patient with Leriche's syndrome.]

Kardiologia Polska — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:54:02 +0100

We present the case of a 55 year-old male admitted to Malopolskie Centrum Sercowo-Naczyniowe PAKS in Chrzanów with diagnosis of anterior wall myocardial infarction (STEMI). We decided to treat the patient invasively because of presence of chest pain, persistent ST elevation and signs of haemodinamical instability. As it revealed later patient needed combination of PCI of left main/left anterior descending artery with PTA of iliac artery. Kardiol Pol 2012; 70, 1: 92-94. PMID: 22267439 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Kardiologia Polska)

First-in-man study of paclitaxel-eluting stent BiOSS (Bifurcation Optimisation Stent System) dedicated for coronary bifurcation stenoses: three months results.

Kardiologia Polska — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:54:02 +0100

Conclusions: The BiOSS bifurcation dedicated stent is a feasible device, with promising safety and short-term clinical effectiveness/ profile. Kardiol Pol 2012; 70, 1: 45-52. PMID: 22267425 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Kardiologia Polska)

Primary percutaneous angioplasty, thrombolysis and conservative treatment in low-risk patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: effects on short- and long-term mortality.

Kardiologia Polska — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:54:02 +0100

Conclusions: No significant differences in 30-day or long-term mortality rates between conservative therapy, PCI or thrombolysis groups in low-risk STEMI patients were observed. Kardiol Pol 2012; 70, 1: 1-5. PMID: 22267414 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Kardiologia Polska)

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PET imaging of angiogenesis after myocardial infarction/reperfusion using a one-step labeled integrin-targeted tracer 18F-AlF-NOTA-PRGD2

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:53:51 +0100

Conclusion PET imaging using one-step labeled 18F-AlF-NOTA-PRGD2 allows noninvasive visualization of ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial angiogenesis longitudinally. The favorable in vivo kinetics and easy production method of this integrin-targeted PET tracer facilitates its future clinical translation for lesion evaluation and therapy response monitoring in patients with occlusive cardiovascular diseases. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-10DOI 10.1007/s00259-011-2052-1Authors Haokao Gao, Department of Cardiology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China 710032Lixin Lang, Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine (LOMIN), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), Nation...

Fried food heart risk 'a myth'

Telegraph Health — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:45:35 +0100

It is a "myth" that regularly eating fried foods causes heart attacks, researchers have found, as long as you use olive oil or sunflower oil. (Source: Telegraph Health)

Studies confirm chiropractic treatment prevents heart attacks and lowers blood pressure

NaturalNews.com — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

The popularity of chiropractic care has grown dramatically since the middle of the 20th century. Although most people seek chiropractic treatment to relieve musculoskeletal pain, certain types of pain may be indicative of the patient experiencing a heart attack just... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

New Heart Attack Warning System

Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It’s like having a crystal ball implanted in your chest. Researchers have developed a new early warning system that could save you from one of the leading killers of men and women. (Source: Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com)

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Will you have a heart attack or stroke?

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Northwestern University) Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke may be worse than you think. Currently, risk is assessed by projecting 10 years ahead. New research shows a young or middle-aged adult at low risk in the short term may be at high risk in the long term, if they have only one risk factor. This is the first study to examine the lifetime risk of heart disease in white and black men and women. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Safety of Dental Extractions in Coronary Drug‐Eluting Stenting Patients Without Stopping Multiple Antiplatelet Agents

Clinical Cardiology — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions:We found that most dental extractions in coronary stenting patients can be carried out safely without stopping multiple antiplatelet agents.The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.This study was supported in part by a grant from Yuhan Corporation, Ltd., Seoul, The Republic of Korea. (Source: Clinical Cardiology)

Impact of a National Smoking Ban on Hospital Admission for Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Longitudinal Study

Clinical Cardiology — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions:A national ban on smoking in public places was associated with an early significant decrease in hospital admissions for ACS, suggesting a rapid effect of banning smoking in public places on ACS. A further reduction of similar magnitude 2 years after implementation of the ban is consistent with a longer‐term effect that should be further examined in long‐term studies.No funding was received for this study. The Coronary Heart Attack Ireland Registry (CHAIR) is funded by the Department of Health and Children, which had no role in the design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, writing or revising of the report. IJP is chairman of the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society. The other authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of inter...

Risk is not our business: safety of thoracic surgery in patients using antiplatelet therapy

Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

American Heart Association recommendations have changed preoperative management of patients with antiplatelet therapy (APT). We assessed safety and outcomes of surgery in patients who were receiving APT. A prospective study of patients operated on while receiving APT was matched with those with no APT (ratio 1:4), using the propensity score method. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify covariates among imbalanced baseline patient variables. Both 2 test and Fisher's test were used to calculate the probability value for the comparison of dichotomous variables. Between January 2008 and December 2010, 38 patients who received APT at the time of surgery were matched with 141 patients who had not received APT. APT indications were a history of myocardial infarction, coronary artery b...

Molecular imaging of matrix metalloproteinases in atherosclerotic plaques.

Thrombosis and Haemostasis — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Lenglet S, Thomas A, Chaurand P, Galan K, Mach F, Montecucco F Abstract Ischaemic stroke and myocardial infarction often result from the sudden rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque. The subsequent arterial thrombosis occluding the vessel lumen has been widely indicated as the crucial acute event causing peripheral tissue ischaemia. A complex cross-talk between systemic and intraplaque inflammatory mediators has been shown to regulate maturation, remodeling and final rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes (released by several cell subsets within atherosclerotic plaques), which favour atherogenesis and increase plaque vulnerability. Thus, the assessment of intraplaque levels and activity of MMP might be of pivotal relev...

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Troponin I Levels and Postoperative Myocardial Infarction following Renal Transplantation

American Journal of Nephrology — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0100

Am J Nephrol 2012;35:175–180 (DOI:10.1159/000335679) (Source: American Journal of Nephrology)

Management of Combined Severe Carotid and Coronary Artery Disease

Current Cardiology Reports — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:21:02 +0100

Abstract Patients with severe carotid and coronary disease—especially if they require coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)—are at high risk of cardiac events and stroke. Carotid revascularization should be considered for patients with symptomatic carotid disease and bilateral severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis. In patients with unilateral asymptomatic carotid stenosis, decision to proceed to revascularization should be based more on a perspective of long-term stroke prevention than of perioperative stroke reduction. Compared with endarterectomy, carotid artery stenting is associated with a lower incidence of periprocedural myocardial infarction, an event linked to long-term mortality. This observation may be particularly relevant for patients with advanced coronary...

Kounis syndrome (allergic acute coronary syndrome): different views in allergologic and cardiologic literature

Internal and Emergency Medicine — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:55:15 +0100

Abstract The clinical picture of myocardial ischemia accompanying allergic reactions is defined in the cardiologic literature as Kounis syndrome (KS) or allergic angina/myocardial infarction. In PubMed, a search for “Kounis syndrome”, “allergic angina” or “allergic myocardial infarction” retrieves more than 100 results (among case reports, case series and reviews), most of which are published in cardiology/internal medicine/emergency medicine journals. In allergologic literature, heart involvement during anaphylactic reactions is well documented, but Kounis syndrome is hardly mentioned. Single case reports and small case series of angina triggered by allergic reactions have been reported for many years, and involvement of histamine and others mast cell mediators...

Adipose stem cell heart attack trial data published in JACC

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Cytori Therapeutics) Cytori announced the publication of previously reported six-month outcomes from APOLLO, the Company's European clinical trial evaluating adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs) in patients with acute myocardial infarction, as Research Correspondence in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The APOLLO trial was a 14-patient, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, feasibility trial evaluating autologous ADRCs extracted with the proprietary Celution System for the treatment of patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Early and Late Outcome After Aortic Root Replacement With a Mechanical Valve Prosthesis in a Series of 528 Patients [ORIGINAL ARTICLES: ADULT CARDIAC]

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Aortic root replacement with a mechanical valve prosthesis can be performed safely with low mortality and acceptable morbidity. Perioperative myocardial infarction is the strongest independent risk factor of 30-day mortality. (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

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Long-Term Survival of Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Treated by Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Versus Medical Therapy [ORIGINAL ARTICLES: ADULT CARDIAC]

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Among a propensity-matched, risk-adjusted, observational cohort of patients with coronary artery disease, left ventricular ejection fraction less than 0.35, and no left main disease of greater than 50%, CABG is associated with a survival advantage over MED through 10 years of follow-up. (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Impact of Preoperative Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Use on Clinical Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery [ORIGINAL ARTICLES: ADULT CARDIAC]

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions We found no association between preoperative ACEi therapy and adverse in-hospital outcomes or long-term survival after CABG. Preoperative ACEi therapy appears to be safe in patients undergoing CABG. (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Prolonged Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay After Cardiac Surgical Procedures [ORIGINAL ARTICLES: ADULT CARDIAC]

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Patients with prICULOS after cardiac operations have worse overall outcomes. These data may be used to inform these patients and their families of realistic expectations regarding their clinical course. (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Non-invasive imaging in acute chest pain syndromes

European Journal of Echocardiography — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This review has the purpose of informing the reader about the current use of imaging techniques in patients presenting with acute chest pain to the emergency department. We will focus on three aspects of managing the patient with acute chest pain:Imaging to increase the number of correct diagnoses in the acute situation; Imaging to rule out other than coronary causes of chest pain; Use of imaging for risk stratification once myocardial infarction has been ruled out in the CPU. Special emphasis is given to how these management aspects are discussed in current guidelines on the management of patients with acute chest pain or acute coronary syndrome. (Source: European Journal of Echocardiography)

Caregiving Burden, Stress, and Health Effects Among Family Caregivers of Adult Cancer Patients [Grand Rounds]

JAMA — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This report describes a case that exemplifies caregiving burden and discusses the importance of identifying caregivers at risk of negative health outcomes and intervening to attenuate the stress associated with the caregiving experience. (Source: JAMA)

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Prognostic Significance of Unrecognized Myocardial Infarction Detected with MR Imaging in Patients with Impaired Fasting Glucose Compared with Those with Diabetes [Cardiac Imaging]

Continuous Publishing articles — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Patients with impaired fasting glucose and late gadolinium enhancement had an unfavorable prognosis that was comparable to that in patients with diabetes mellitus and late gadolinium enhancement, indicating that the detection of unrecognized myocardial infarction is important for identifying a subpopulation of subjects in the prediabetic stage who may benefit from more intensive treatments. (Source: Continuous Publishing articles)

Clinical outcomes of intracoronary eptifibatide bolus only versus intracoronary bolus and intravenous infusion of eptifibatide in primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Acute Cardiac Care — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Soon D, Ho HH, Loh KK, Ooi YW, Foo D, Jafary FH, Ong PJ Abstract Intracoronary bolus of eptifibatide during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been shown to result in higher local platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor occupancy with improved microvascular perfusion. It is unclear whether intracoronary administration of eptifibatide in a larger patient population results in favourable clinical outcomes. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of two regimens of intracoronary eptifibatide (bolus only versus bolus followed by intravenous infusion) in patients undergoing primary PCI for ST-elevation MI. They were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 67) who received fixed-dose intracoronary eptifibatide bolus only and Group B ...

High frequency of Neuropeptide Y Leu7Pro polymorphism in an Iranian population and its association with coronary artery disease.

Gene — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of Leu7Pro polymorphism of NPY was 5.9% in our Iranian population; higher than reported for other Asian populations. The Leu7Pro polymorphism was associated with CAD in an Iranian population. PMID: 22289186 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Gene)

Aspirin and the Harmful Effect of NSAIDs

The American Journal of Medicine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:45:01 +0100

The article by Bavry et al reporting the recurrence of myocardial infarction after the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with established cardiovascular disease is of great interest and of relevance for clinicians working in the “real world.” Although the mechanism for the harmful effect of NSAIDs remains poorly understood, it is feasible that NSAIDs would induce an imbalance between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-derived prostacyclin (PGI2) and the COX-1-derived thromboxane (TXA2). COX-2 inhibitors do not affect TXA2 level, may increase platelets reactivity, and could exert prothrombotic effects. Aspirin decreases both COX-1-derived TXA2 and PGI2, preventing the imbalance of these 2 prostanoids. In the Bavry et al study, it is possible to suppose that some pat...

Using the GRACE Risk Scores in Everyday Practice

The American Journal of Medicine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:45:00 +0100

Acute coronary syndromes, a continuum of disease ranging from unstable angina to ST-elevation myocardial infarction, can pose a high degree of uncertainty and acuity on presentation. These patients have varying degrees of risk for death and adverse events. The recently released 2011 Focused Update on the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Guidelines for the Management of Unstable Angina and Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction suggest that using a risk-stratification tool can not only help clinicians with prognostication, but also may help them decide which patients warrant higher-risk interventional strategies such as anticoagulation or cardiac catheterization. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)

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The Cardiovascular Effects of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor Agonists

The American Journal of Medicine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:44:59 +0100

Abstract: Although peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists are prescribed to improve cardiovascular risk factors, their cardiovascular safety is controversial. We therefore reviewed the literature to identify landmark randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists (pioglitazone and rosiglitazone), alpha agonists (fenofibrate and gemfibrozil), and pan agonists (bezafibrate, muraglitazar, ragaglitazar, tesaglitazar, and aleglitazar) on cardiovascular outcomes. Pioglitazone may modestly reduce cardiovascular events but also may increase the risk of bladder cancer. Rosiglitazone increases the risk of myocardial infarction and has been withdrawn in European and restricted in the United States. Fibrates improve cardiov...

Sirolimus: Very late stent thrombosis, coronary artery occlusion and myocardial infarction: case report

Reactions — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:35:21 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Impact of Carotid Plaque Screening on Smoking Cessation and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Controlled Trial [Original Investigation]

Archives of Internal Medicine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion In smokers, carotid plaque screening performed in addition to thorough smoking cessation counseling is not associated with increased rates of smoking cessation or control of cardiovascular risk factors. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00548665 (Source: Archives of Internal Medicine)

Factors Associated With 30-Day Readmission Rates After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention [Original Investigation]

Archives of Internal Medicine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Nearly 1 in 10 patients undergoing PCI were readmitted within 30 days. Thirty-day readmission after PCI was associated with a higher risk of 1-year mortality. (Source: Archives of Internal Medicine)

Prediction Is Very Hard, Especially About the Future: Comment on "Factors Associated With 30-Day Readmission Rates After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention" [Invited Commentary]

Archives of Internal Medicine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Archives of Internal Medicine)

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Improvement in Revascularization Time After Creation of a Coronary Catheterization Laboratory at a Public Hospital [Research Letters]

Archives of Internal Medicine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Archives of Internal Medicine)

High-dose statin before percutaneous coronary intervention lowers risk of periprocedural myocardial infarction and 30-day major cardiac adverse events

Evidence-Based Medicine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Context In the current era, periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) can still occur in a significant proportion of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs).1 Large periprocedural ischaemic events are associated with harm; however, even small increases in cardiac enzymes have been associated with increased long-term mortality.2 Attempts to enhance the safety of PCI have typically occurred through the use of potent antiplatelet agents (eg, aspirin, ADP receptor blockers (clopidogrel and prasugrel) and glycoprotein inhibitors (abciximab and eptifibatide)), as well as antithrombin agents (eg, unfractionated heparin, low-molecular weight heparin and bivalirudin). Although antiplatelet and antithrombin agents are effective at reducing ischaemic events, a cost from their use is sometimes paid...

Patients treated with aspirin after a first myocardial infarction who also receive a proton pump inhibitor have a higher incidence of cardiovascular events

Evidence-Based Medicine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Context Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) block the final step in gastric acid production, increasing intragastric pH from about 1 to above 4, depending on the agent and dose used.1 This increase may influence the fate of drugs in the stomach. In the case of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), neutralisation of gastric contents significantly decreases the absorption of both ASA and salicylic acid,2 but the clinical significance of this is uncertain. While lansoprazole does not influence the effect of low-dose enteric-coated ASA on platelet aggregation,3 patients with coronary disease receiving PPIs appear to have an impaired platelet response to aspirin.4 Methods To explore the consequences of the potential drug interaction between PPIs and ASA, Charlot et al conducted a cohort study of 19 925 patient...

Multiple episodes of arterial thrombosis in a young man with protein C deficiency: a case report.

Vascular — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Cheng YC, Tsai CS, Lin YC, Kao CH, Tsai YT Abstract A 23-year-old young adult, who had no previous illness, suffered from anterior wall acute myocardial infarction, right renal infarction and occlusion of the left distal brachial artery, popliteal artery, and tibioperoneal trunk artery within six months. He had a habit of smoking but denied a history of drug abuse. Protein C deficiency was diagnosed via the examination of a hypercoagulable panel. The investigation of the hypercoagulable state is essential in young adults with an unusual presentation of artery occlusion. PMID: 22271805 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular)

Socioeconomic inequalities in the morbidity and mortality of acute coronary events in Finland: 1988 to 2002.

Annals of Epidemiology — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:24:38 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The excess CHD morbidity and mortality among persons with lower SES is still considerable in Finland, but the economic recession did not widen the differences. PMID: 22226031 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Epidemiology)

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Cannabis smoking and myocardial infarction

International Journal of Clinical Practice — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0100

Linked Comment: http://www.youtube.com/IJCPeditorial (Source: International Journal of Clinical Practice)

Drugs of abuse (amfetamines, BZP, cannabis, cocaine, GHB, LSD)

Medicine — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:58:54 +0100

Abstract: The features of amfetamine poisoning are related predominantly to stimulation of central and peripheral adrenergic receptors, and in severe cases, excitability, agitation, paranoid delusions, hallucinations with violent behaviour, hypertonia and hyperreflexia develop. Convulsions, rhabdomyolysis, hyperthermia, intracerebral haemorrhage and cardiac arrhythmias are less common. In addition, hyperthermia and hyponatraemia are features of severe MDMA toxicity.Benzylpiperazine (BZP) has stimulant and amfetamine-like properties. Those severely poisoned may develop seizures, collapse, hyperthermia, myoclonic jerks, extrapyramidal features and respiratory failure.Features of cannabis use include euphoria, distorted and heightened images, colours and sounds, altered tactile sensations, im...

New insights in to the treatment of myocardial infarction

International Journal of Experimental Pathology — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:50:01 +0100

This study investigated the effects of the L‐17 compound of the group of substituted 5R1, 6H2‐1,3,4‐thiadiazine‐2‐amines on the inflammatory cellular infiltration and myocardial remodelling which occurs after acute myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. The study is based upon recent clinical and experimental work which demonstrated the role of local and systemic inflammatory reactions in postinfarction remodelling. Acute MI in rats was induced by left coronary artery coagulation. Animals were sacrificed on day one, five and seven after MI induction. The myocardiumal samples were taken from all parts of the heart and examined by histology. This included areas of infarction, infraction and areas that were peri‐infarctiom and left ventricular areas distant from the damaged tissues. ...

Sex Is O.K. For Heart Attack Patients

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0100

A scientific statement from The American Heart Association clarifies that sexual activity for those with heart conditions is ok. They caution that women should be counseled on use of contraceptive methods and possible adverse effects of pregnancy, while men should be wary of certain erectile dysfunction medications that are unsafe for all cardiovascular diseases. The statement was published online 19th Jan... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Director's Comments: ADHD Medications Not Linked to Heart Risks

What's New on MedlinePlus — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:01:32 +0100

Listen to the NLM Director's Comments on ADHD Medications Not Linked to Heart Risks. The transcript is also available. A comprehensive study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association rebuts a hypothesized link among common medications for attention deficit\hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a subsequent risk of heart attack, stroke, or sudden heart death. (Source: What's New on MedlinePlus)

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Sex guidelines issued for post-heart attack life

Health News: CBSNews.com — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:33:38 +0100

American Heart Association: If you can walk up two flights of stairs or walk briskly, you're likely OK to have sex (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Video: Safe sex after heart attack

Health News: CBSNews.com — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:19:21 +0100

The American Heart Association has released guidelines for safe sex after having a heart attack. Erica Hill and Gayle King speak with Dr. Jon Lapook about those guidelines. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Imaging in the Management of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Special Focus on Magnetic Resonance

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:57:13 +0100

Heart failure of ischemic origin has become increasingly common over the last decade because of the improved survival of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Revascularization with coronary bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention plays a pivotal role in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, although these interventions are often associated with relatively high peri-procedural risk. The pathophysiological substrate of ischemic cardiomyopathy is heterogeneous, varying from predominantly hibernating myocardium to irreversible scarring. There is evidence to suggest that patients with hibernating myocardium benefit most from revascularization, whereas medical therapy is associated with an adverse prognosis. Therefore, noninvasive testing is recommended by relevant guideline...

Selection Bias in “Prognostic Impact of Staged Versus ‘One-Time’ Multivessel Percutaneous Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction”

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:57:13 +0100

Kornowski et al. () should be commended for attempting to validate the current guidelines regarding staged versus “one-time” stenting in the setting of an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Their recent article in the Journal was a prespecified secondary analysis of the HORIZONS-AMI (Harmonizing Outcomes With Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction) cohort. (Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology)

The influence of surgery on the onset of symptomatic coronary artery disease

Anaesthesia — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:16:43 +0100

SummaryWe speculated that asymptomatic patients undergoing routine surgery might be at higher risk of subsequent cardiac events. We studied 183 534 patients with no prior admission for heart disease, aged 50–75 years, admitted electively for one of five operations considered medium to low risk of peri‐operative cardiac morbidity, between January 1997 and December 2005. Controls were generated from linked records. Within 3 years 3444 (1.9%) patients undergoing operations had subsequent myocardial infarction/acute coronary syndrome (MI/ACS) compared with 3708 (2.0%) controls (p < 0.001). Overall 8406 (4.6%) patients undergoing surgery had MI/ACS compared with 9306 (5.1%) controls (p < 0.001). Of patients undergoing surgery, 20.2% died compared with 25.7% of controls (...

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Heart attack on a plate: Guide on what not to eat at the big chains

the Mail online | Health — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:30:23 +0100

This massive mixed grill, from JD Wetherspoon has been exposed as the unhealthiest dish in the country by 'food swapping' guide Eat This, Not That!. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Carotid stenting versus endarterectomy.

Annual Review of Medicine — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:00:58 +0100

Authors: Doig D, Brown MM Abstract Since the landmark NASCET and ECST trials demonstrated the superiority of carotid endarterectomy over medical therapy in the prevention of stroke for patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, surgical intervention as a part of secondary prevention of stroke has become widespread. However, the newer technology of carotid artery angioplasty and stenting challenges this mode of intervention, promising the benefits of a procedure under local anesthesia and potentially avoiding the surgical complications of cranial nerve palsy and hematoma. Pooled evidence from randomized controlled trials of endarterectomy versus stenting shows a higher rate of stroke or death in the stenting groups-but this finding is mitigated to an extent by the lower inci...

Function of remote non-infarcted myocardium after STEMI: analysis with cardiovascular magnetic resonance

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:07:36 +0100

Abstract To evaluate remote myocardial function after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and the impact of infarct size (IS) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). 161 patients and 15 controls underwent CMR at 1st week and 6th month after STEMI. Using the 17-segments model, segments were categorized into infarcted, adjacent and remote myocardium. Relative systolic wall thickening (SWT, %) was assessed using the centerline method. IS (% of left ventricular mass) was determined in late enhancement imaging. Overall, in remote myocardium, SWT was comparable (83 ± 32) to controls (77 ± 25, P = .5) and did not increase significantly (P = .2) at the 6th month (88 ± 35, P = .3 vs. control). When IS was ca...

Women, but not men, have prolonged QT interval if depressed after an acute coronary syndrome

Europace — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions In this ACS sample, prolongation of the QT interval was associated with depressive symptoms in women, but not in men. Further investigation of the mechanism of the relationship between depression and abnormal cardiac repolarization, particularly in women, is warranted to develop treatment strategies. (Source: Europace)