Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialPredischarge B-type natriuretic peptide assay for identifying patients at high risk of re-admission after decompensated heart failure.
The aim of this study was to determine the value of serial B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) assay for predicting post-discharge outcome of patients admitted for decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF). ⋯ High predischarge BNP assay is a strong, independent marker of death or re-admission after decompensated CHF, more relevant than common clinical or echocardiographic parameters and more relevant than changes in BNP levels during acute cares.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialLong-term effect of combined vitamins E and C on coronary and peripheral endothelial function.
We tested whether long-term administration of antioxidant vitamins C and E improves coronary and brachial artery endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). ⋯ Long-term oral vitamins C and E do not improve key mechanisms in the biology of atherosclerosis or endothelial dysfunction, or reduce LDL oxidation in vivo.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
ReviewNonsteroidal anti-Inflammatory drugs and cardiovascular risk.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which exist in at least two isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2. Aspirin and older agents in this class are nonselective inhibitors of both COX-1 and COX-2. Newer agents termed "coxibs" are selective inhibitors of COX-2. ⋯ Some studies have demonstrated a potentially beneficial effect of COX-2 on cardiovascular function that could be negated by COX-2 inhibition, while other studies have reported improved endothelial function with COX-2 inhibitors. Additionally, the impact of combined therapy with aspirin and other COX inhibitors is not yet clear. This article will review the studies that have examined these issues.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
Heart rate-corrected QT interval prolongation predicts risk of coronary heart disease in black and white middle-aged men and women: the ARIC study.
We aimed to study the predictive value of heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) for incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in the black and white general population, and to validate various QT measurements. ⋯ Long QTc is associated with increased risk of CHD and CVD mortality in black and white healthy men and women.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
A comparison of short- and long-term outcomes after off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery with sternotomy.
This study was designed to compare in-hospital mortality and complications and three-year mortality and revascularization for off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery after adjusting for patient risk. ⋯ On-pump patients experience better long-term survival and freedom from revascularization than off-pump patients. However, the survival benefit from on-pump procedures was no longer present in the last two years of the study.