Emerging role of ivabradine for rate control in atrial fibrillation
Control of ventricular rate is recommended for patients with paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent atrial fibrillation (AF). Existing rate-control options, including beta-blockers, nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, and digoxin, are limited by adverse hemodynamic effects and their ability to attain target heart rate (HR). Ivabradine, a novel HR-controlling agent, decreases HR through deceleration of conduction through If (‘funny’) channels, and is approved for HR reduction in heart failure patients with ejection fraction less than 35% and elevated HR, despite optimal pharmacological treatment. Because ...
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - November 9, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Turley, S. L., Francis, K. E., Lowe, D. K., Cahoon, W. D. Tags: Review Source Type: research

Diuretics prevent Rho-kinase activation and expression of profibrotic/oxidative genes in the hypertensive aortic wall
Conclusions: In the aortic wall, both HCTZ and spiro in antihypertensive doses reduce ROCK activation, subsequent expression of genes that promote vascular remodeling and hypertrophy in this experimental model of hypertension. These effects could explain some of their clinical benefits in hypertensive patients. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - November 9, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Araos, P., Mondaca, D., Jalil, J. E., Yanez, C., Novoa, U., Mora, I., Ocaranza, M. P. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

Blood pressure treatment goals in hypertension
(Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - November 9, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Düsing, R. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research

Surrogate and clinical endpoints in interventional cardiology: are statistics the brakes?
Conclusions: From a reimbursement impact, the primary endpoints MACE and TLR are the best choices for a moderately sized study population of 500 patients per group. Angiographic endpoints, in particular minimal lumen diameter (MLD), are not useful in this context. The emerging endpoints such as loss in FFR or stent coverage require smaller patient populations. However, their impact on reimbursement-related decisions is limited. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - August 28, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Waliszewski, M., Rittger, H. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research

Aldosterone is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients
Conclusion: The data presented are consistent with a pathogenic role of aldosterone in left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with chronic kidney dialysis in dialysis patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01128101. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - August 28, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Feniman De Stefano, G. M. M., Zanati-Basan, S. G., De Stefano, L. M., Silva, V. R. O. e., Xavier, P. S., Barretti, P., da Silva Franco, R. J., Caramori, J. C. T., Martin, L. C. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research

Management of rivaroxaban in relation to bodyweight and body mass index
Being overweight or obese is associated with a higher individual risk of venous thromboembolism and poorer postprocedural outcomes after hip or knee replacement surgery. In addition, there is evidence that obesity represents a significant driving factor for the current and projected prevalence of atrial fibrillation. Rivaroxaban and other direct oral anticoagulants offer fixed-dose regimens for these indications. They do not require therapeutic drug monitoring or dose adjustment according to the weight of the patient. However, primary care physicians seem to be hesitant to accept the concept of a fixed-dose regimen for pat...
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - August 28, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Uprichard, J. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research

The emerging role of endothelin-1 in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is the most frequently encountered medical complication during pregnancy. It is characterized by a rise in systemic vascular resistance with a relatively low cardiac output and hypovolemia, combined with severe proteinuria. Despite the hypovolemia, renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activity is suppressed and aldosterone levels are decreased to the same degree as renin. This suggests that the RAS is not the cause of the hypertension in PE, but rather that its suppression is the consequence of the rise in blood pressure. Abnormal placentation early in pregnancy is widely assumed to be an important initi...
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - August 28, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Saleh, L., Verdonk, K., Visser, W., van den Meiracker, A. H., Danser, A. H. J. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research

New-onset lone atrial fibrillation in pregnancy
(Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - July 7, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Anugu, V. R., Nalluri, N., Asti, D., Gaddam, S., Vazzana, T., Lafferty, J. Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Validated formulae for estimation of whole blood viscosity underestimate the influence of erythrocyte aggregation and deformability
(Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - July 7, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Weidman, J., Sloop, G., St. Cyr, J. A. Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Nitric oxide in paediatric respiratory disorders: novel interventions to address associated vascular phenomena?
This article reviews current therapeutic application of iNO and the state-of-the-art technology methods for sustained delivery of NO that may be adapted and developed to address respiratory disorders. We envisage this perspective would prompt active investigation of such systems for their potential clinical benefit. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - July 7, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Akter, F., Coghlan, G., de Mel, A. Tags: Review Source Type: research

Efficacy of topical local anaesthesia to reduce perioperative pain for endovenous laser ablation of varicose veins: a double-blind randomized controlled trial
Conclusions: Topical local anaesthesia is of no benefit in EVLA of varicose vein to reduce patient experience of perioperative pain. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - July 7, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Saha, S., Tiwari, A., Hunns, C., Refson, J., Abidia, A. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

Multiple medication (polypharmacy) and chronic kidney disease in patients aged 60 and older: a pharmacoepidemiologic perspective
Conclusion: We did not find significant independent association between use of multiple medications and CKD. The switchover of odds for multiple medication suggested a confounding effect of covariates; further prospective studies are required to find the individualized effect of multiple medications on CKD. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - July 7, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Sutaria, A., Liu, L., Ahmed, Z. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

Adverse cardiovascular events in acute coronary syndrome with indications for anticoagulation
Conclusions: In this real world observational study, the at-discharge AT strategy was not significantly associated with the 2-year risk of MACE. These findings do not negate the need for randomized trials to generate evidence-based approaches to management of this important population. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - July 7, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Knight, S., McCubrey, R. O., Yuan, Z., Woller, S. C., Horne, B. D., Bunch, T. J., Le, V. T., Mills, R. M., Muhlestein, J. B. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

The association of severity of retinal vascular changes and cardiac remodelling in systemic hypertension
Conclusion: Grades 3 and 4 retinopathy demonstrated a significant association with LV strain pattern and left atrial enlargement on ECG, LVH and reduced LVEF on echocardiography as well as with heart failure. There was no relationship with systolic BP and duration of hypertension, while diastolic BP showed a significant positive correlation. Signs of hypertensive heart disease were practically absent in patients without hypertensive retinopathy and uncommon in those with grade 1–2 alterations. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - July 7, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Varghese, M., Adhyapak, S. M., Thomas, T., Sunder, M., Varghese, K. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

Edaravone, a potent free radical scavenger and a calcium channel blocker attenuate isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction by suppressing oxidative stress, apoptotic signaling and ultrastructural damage
Conclusion: Taken together these results suggest that the combination of benidipine and edaravone showed significant protective effect in ISO-induced MI. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - July 7, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Hassan, M. Q., Akhtar, M. S., Akhtar, M., Ali, J., Haque, S. E., Najmi, A. K. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research