International journal of cardiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
IRON-HF study: a randomized trial to assess the effects of iron in heart failure patients with anemia.
Anemia in heart failure patients and has been associated with increased morbi-mortality. Previous studies have treated anemia in heart failure patients with either erythropoietin alone or combination of erythropoietin and intravenous (i.v.) iron. However, the effect of i.v. or oral (p.o.) iron supplementation alone in heart failure patients with anemia was virtually unknown. ⋯ I.v. iron seems to be superior in improving functional capacity of heart failure patients. However, correction of anemia seems to be at least similar between p.o. iron and i.v. iron supplementation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Safety of pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation during uninterrupted warfarin treatment--the FinPAC study.
Periprocedural management of oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients undergoing cardiac rhythm management (CRM) device implantation is controversial. Prior studies demonstrate that uninterrupted OAC may be safe, but limited data from randomized trials exist. ⋯ Our randomized study demonstrates that CRM devices can be safely implanted without discontinuation of warfarin treatment.
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Meta Analysis
Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale for cryptogenic stroke: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
There is an ongoing debate on the role of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in preventing recurrent ischemic events in patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO. We systematically reviewed the latest randomized data on the efficacy and safety of percutaneous PFO closure in patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO. ⋯ Currently-available randomized data do not support the use of percutaneous PFO closure for secondary stroke prevention in patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO. An updated meta-analysis including further data from ongoing RCTs is warranted.
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Review
Autologous bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy in heart disease: discrepancies and contradictions.
Autologous bone marrow stem cell therapy is the greatest advance in the treatment of heart disease for a generation according to pioneering reports. In response to an unanswered letter regarding one of the largest and most promising trials, we attempted to summarise the findings from the most innovative and prolific laboratory. ⋯ Modern reporting of clinical research can still be imperfect. The scientific literature absorbs such reports largely uncritically. Even meta-analyses seem to resolve contradictions haphazardly. Discrepancies communicated to journals are not guaranteed to reach the scientific community. Journals could consider prioritising systematic reporting of queries even if seemingly minor, and establishing a policy of "habeas data".
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Multicenter Study
Relationship of CRP, IL-6, and fibrinogen with right ventricular structure and function: the MESA-Right Ventricle Study.
Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of disease associated with the left ventricle (LV); yet, our understanding of the effect of inflammation on the right ventricle (RV) is quite limited. ⋯ Levels of CRP and IL-6 are independently associated with RV morphology even after adjustment for the respective LV measure in this multi-ethnic population free of clinical cardiovascular disease. Systemic inflammation may contribute to RV structural changes independent of effects on the LV.