Journal of cardiovascular medicine
-
J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Nov 2012
α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid in early postoperative period of cardiopulmonary bypass.
To investigate whether α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid have effect on the suppression of inflammation in the early postoperative period after open heart surgery. ⋯ Suppression of the systemic inflammatory response to CPB is a double-edged sword and whether this suppression aids in the attenuation of morbidity and mortality is obscure. In this respect, ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol seem to display some anti-inflammatory effect, but further studies are necessary to reveal the actual therapeutic potential and the complex mechanism related to biochemical and inflammatory parameters.
-
J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Nov 2012
ReviewRemote ischemic conditioning: the cardiologist's perspective.
Early and successful restoration of myocardial reperfusion following an ischemic event is the most effective strategy to reduce final infarct size and improve clinical outcome. However, revascularization per se may induce further myocardial damage by myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and worsen clinical outcome. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are required to protect the myocardium against ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients with coronary artery disease. ⋯ Large-scale multicenter clinical trials are needed to establish the role of RIC in the current clinical practice. At present, the use of RIC in acute coronary syndromes seems particularly attractive due to its potential in-ambulance application and apparent dramatic reduction in infarct size in the patients with the largest infarcts. Cardiac arrest and stroke represent ischemia-reperfusion disorders where RIC has further potential to improve outcome beyond rapid revascularization alone.
-
J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Nov 2012
Clinical characteristics and risk assessment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients of an Iranian referral center.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of death and disability in the Iranian population. This prospective comprehensive study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes with possible correlations between them in patients with AMI. ⋯ Our results provide emphasis on prevention of cardiovascular risk factors and further support to decrease patients' prehospital delay and accelerate in-hospital interventions for patients with AMI.
-
J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Oct 2012
ReviewIntraplaque neovascularization and hemorrhage: markers for cardiovascular risk stratification and therapeutic monitoring.
Atherosclerotic disease results in major clinical events and remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the western World. Atherosclerotic plaques have a heterogeneous presentation. Atherosclerotic plaques with a vulnerable phenotype have been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular complications. ⋯ Pharmacological interventions showed an inhibiting effect of lipid-lowering drugs on plaque neovascularization. Imaging modalities such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound or MRI are able to visualize intraplaque neovascularization and hemorrhage noninvasively. Consequently, detection of intraplaque neovascularization and hemorrhage visualized with noninvasive imaging might improve the stratification of 'high-risk' patients.
-
An 8-year-old asymptomatic child was referred for surgical repair of coronary sinus atrial septal defect resulting in significant left-to-right shunt and right chamber volume overload. The septal fenestration was located near to its drainage site into the right atrium. Due to this seemingly favourable anatomy, transcatheter closure of the septal defect was performed using an Amplatzer Septal Occluder device. The echocardiographic postprocedural evaluation imaged the occluding device almost perpendicular to the atrial septum, seemingly floating above the mitral valve orifice, like an alien spaceship inside the heart.