Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2013
Readmissions after implantation of axial flow left ventricular assist device.
The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence and causes of readmissions after implantation of axial flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD). ⋯ Readmission rates after axial flow LVAD implantation decrease during the first 6 months and then stabilize. The leading causes are bleeding, cardiac (heart failure and arrhythmia), infections, and thrombosis.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2013
Comparative StudySex differences in arterial stiffness and ventricular-arterial interactions.
This study sought to assess sex differences in ventricular-arterial interactions. ⋯ Proximal aortic stiffness (Z(c)) is greater in women than men, and women may be more susceptible to the deleterious effects of greater pulsatile and early arterial load on diastolic function and ventricular-arterial interaction. This may contribute to the greater risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in women.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2013
Reproducibility of echocardiographic techniques for sequential assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes: application to patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy.
The aim of this study was to identify the best echocardiographic method for sequential quantification of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and volumes in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. ⋯ Noncontrast 3DE was the most reproducible technique for LVEF and LV volume measurements over 1 year of follow-up.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2013
Simvastatin effects on skeletal muscle: relation to decreased mitochondrial function and glucose intolerance.
Glucose tolerance and skeletal muscle coenzyme Q(10) (Q(10)) content, mitochondrial density, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) capacity were measured in simvastatin-treated patients (n = 10) and in well-matched control subjects (n = 9). ⋯ These simvastatin-treated patients were glucose intolerant. A decreased Q(10) content was accompanied by a decreased maximal OXPHOS capacity in the simvastatin-treated patients. It is plausible that this finding partly explains the muscle pain and exercise intolerance that many patients experience with their statin treatment.