International journal of cardiology
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
MR-pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) predicts short- and long-term outcomes in respiratory tract infections: a prospective validation study.
Previous research found precursor levels of the atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) to be promising prognostic markers. This study aims to validate these findings and describe patterns of MR-proANP in a large cohort of patients with lower respiratory tract infections. ⋯ This study confirms the high prognostic performance of MR-proANP for short- and long-term mortality, particularly its high negative predictive value, in lower respiratory tract infections and community-acquired pneumonia, thereby complementing clinical risk assessment with the pneumonia severity index.
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Letter Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Survival benefit of new anticoagulants compared with warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis.
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There are conflicting data on the role of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the pathogenesis of cryptogenic stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of cerebrovascular events associated with PFO in a large population of patients during mid-term follow-up. ⋯ New cerebrovascular events are rare in unselected subjects with PFO, even in those with previous cerebral ischemia and those who have not undergone PFO closure, with an event rate similar to that observed in the general population.
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The Evaluation of Xience Prime or Xience V versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization (EXCEL) trial is a multicenter, ongoing trial conducted in patients with left main disease and SYNTAX score ≤ 32 to establish the presumptive advantage of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus bypass surgery in patients with less complex coronary artery disease than those enrolled in the Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) trial. In this article, we aimed at critically discussing key features and issues relevant to design and clinical interpretation of this new contemporary trial of left main PCI.
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Bleeding and vascular access site complications are an important cause of morbidity after percutaneous femoral procedures. Together with collagen-based and suture-based vascular closure devices, new hemostatic dressings have been developed to control heavy bleeding. ⋯ QuikClot Interventional Bandage obtained prompt hemostasis and allowed for an early ambulation without clinical complications.