Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Apr 2013
ReviewPreparing the United States for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays.
It is only a matter of time before the use of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays (hs-cTn) becomes common throughout the United States. In preparation for this inevitability, this article raises a number of important issues regarding these assays that deserve consideration. These include: the need for the adoption of a universal nomenclature; the importance of defining uniform criteria for reference populations; the challenge of discriminating between acute and nonacute causes of hs-cTn elevations, and between type 1 and type 2 acute myocardial infarction (AMI); factors influencing the analytical precision of hs-cTn; ascertaining the optimal duration of the rule-out period for AMI; the need for further evaluation to determine the causes of a positive hs-cTn in non-AMI patients; and the use of hs-cTn to risk-stratify patients with disease conditions other than AMI. This review elaborates on these critical issues as a means of educating clinicians and researchers about them.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Apr 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialSex differences in presentation and outcome among patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease treated with contemporary medical therapy with or without prompt revascularization: a report from the BARI 2D Trial (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes).
This study evaluated differences in outcome among women and men enrolled in the BARI 2D (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes) trial. ⋯ There were no sex differences in death, myocardial infarction, or cerebrovascular accident among patients enrolled in the BARI 2D trial. However, compared with men, women had more symptoms and less anatomic disease at baseline, with persistence of higher angina rates and lower DASI scores after 5 years of medical therapy with or without prompt revascularization. (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation in Type 2 Diabetes [BARI 2D]; NCT00006305).
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Apr 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialQuality of life assessment in the randomized PROTECT AF (Percutaneous Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage Versus Warfarin Therapy for Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) trial of patients at risk for stroke with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
This study sought to assess quality of life parameters in a subset of patients enrolled in the PROTECT AF (Percutaneous Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage Versus Warfarin Therapy for Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) trial. ⋯ Patients with nonvalvular AF at risk for stroke treated with left atrial appendage closure have favorable QOL changes at 12 months versus patients treated with warfarin. (WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage System for Embolic Protection in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [WATCHMAN PROTECT]; NCT00129545).
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Apr 2013
Comparative StudyThe relationship between metabolic risk factors and incident cardiovascular disease in Europeans, South Asians, and African Caribbeans: SABRE (Southall and Brent Revisited) -- a prospective population-based study.
This study sought to determine whether ethnic differences in diabetes, dyslipidemia, and ectopic fat deposition account for ethnic differences in incident cardiovascular disease. ⋯ Ethnic differences in measured metabolic risk factors did not explain differences in coronary heart disease incidence. The apparently greater association between diabetes and stroke risk in South Asians and African Caribbeans compared with Europeans merits further study.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Apr 2013
5-year experience with transcatheter transapical mitral valve-in-valve implantation for bioprosthetic valve dysfunction.
The study sought to describe the authors' experience with mitral transapical transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation (TVIV). ⋯ Transcatheter transapical mitral valve-in-valve implantation for dysfunctional biological mitral prosthesis can be performed with minimal operative morbidity and mortality and favorable midterm clinical and hemodynamic outcomes.