Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2004
Value of plasma fibrin D-dimers for detection of acute aortic dissection.
The purpose of this research was to assess the value of systemic inflammatory biomarkers in the detection of acute aortic dissection (AD). ⋯ D-dimers are highly elevated in both acute PE and acute AD. Patients with acute AD show significant systemic inflammatory reactions. Measurement of D-dimers may be a valuable addition to the current diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected AD.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2004
Comparative StudyComparison of medical treatment with percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale in patients with cryptogenic stroke.
The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of medical treatment with percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO). ⋯ Percutaneous PFO closure appears at least as effective as medical treatment for prevention of recurrent cerebrovascular events in cryptogenic stroke patients with PFO. It might be more effective than medical treatment in patients with complete closure and more than one cerebrovascular event.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialN-Acetylcysteine versus fenoldopam mesylate to prevent contrast agent-associated nephrotoxicity.
We performed a study to assess the efficacy of fenoldopam mesylate (a specific agonist of the dopamine-1 receptor) as compared with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in preventing contrast agent-associated nephrotoxicity (CAN). ⋯ N-acetylcysteine seems to be more effective than fenoldopam in preventing CAN.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2004
A program encouraging early defibrillation results in improved in-hospital resuscitation efficacy.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether survival to discharge after in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest could be improved by a program encouraging early defibrillation that included switching from monophasic to biphasic devices. ⋯ A program including education and use of biphasic manual defibrillators in AED mode and selective use of AEDs improved survival to discharge in hospitalized patients suffering from cardiopulmonary arrest.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2004
Clinical TrialIbutilide added to propafenone for the conversion of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
We evaluated the safety and efficacy of ibutilide when added to propafenone in treating both paroxysmal and chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL). ⋯ Our graded approach using propafenone and ibutilide appears to be a relatively safe and effective alternative for the treatment of paroxysmal and chronic AF/AFL to both rapidly restore sinus rhythm in nonresponders to monotherapy with propafenone and prevent immediate recurrences of the arrhythmia.