International journal of cardiology
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Major bleeding with vitamin K antagonists or direct oral anticoagulants in real-life.
Limited data are available on major bleeding (MB) occurring during treatment with vitamin K (VKAs) or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) outside clinical trials. ⋯ Admission for ICH is less frequent for DOAC patients compared with VKA patients. Admission for gastrointestinal MB is more frequent for DOAC as compared to VKA patients. Mortality seems lower in patients with MBs while on DOACs than VKAs but this finding varies across different types of MBs.
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This study examines the clinical utility of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an indicator of myocardial dysfunction and mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock. ⋯ High plasma NGAL correlates with high mortality and myocardial dysfunction in severe sepsis and septic shock.
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Comparative Study
Characteristics of early repolarization parameters and prognostic implications in the general ambulatory Korean population.
We tested a hypothesis that the 2 fundamental components of early repolarization (ER), J wave and ST elevation (STE) might have different prevalence and prognostic implications. ⋯ J waves and STE showed different age and lead distributions and prognostic implications. The presence of the J wave itself was associated with a higher relative risk of mortality. However, due to the low event rate, its clinical significance appears to be limited.
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Comparative Study
Exercise speckle-tracking strain imaging demonstrates impaired right ventricular contractile reserve in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
To analyse right ventricular (RV) systolic function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) at rest and during exercise, and its possible correlation with left ventricular(LV) morphology and function. ⋯ RV contractile reserve for HCM is impaired and this suggests that the lower resting values of RV in HCM may represent early subclinical myocardial damage, closely associated with exercise capacity.
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Terminating ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) is critical for successful resuscitation of patients with shockable cardiac arrest. In the event of shock-refractory VF, applicable guidelines suggest use of anti-arrhythmic agents. However, subsequent long-term outcomes remain unclear. A nationwide cohort study was therefore launched, examining 1-year survival rates in patients given amiodarone and/or lidocaine for cardiac arrest. ⋯ In patients with shockable cardiac arrest, 1-year survival rates were improved with association of using amiodarone and/or lidocaine, as opposed to non-treatment. However, outcomes of patients given one or both medications did not differ significantly in intergroup comparisons.