Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2014
Review Meta AnalysisThe prognostic value of pre-operative and post-operative B-type natriuretic peptides in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery: B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal fragment of pro-B-type natriuretic peptide: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.
Measuring B-type natriuretic peptides post-operatively improves risk stratification in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyIntracoronary cardiosphere-derived cells after myocardial infarction: evidence of therapeutic regeneration in the final 1-year results of the CADUCEUS trial (CArdiosphere-Derived aUtologous stem CElls to reverse ventricUlar dySfunction).
This study sought to report full 1-year results, detailed magnetic resonance imaging analysis, and determinants of efficacy in the prospective, randomized, controlled CADUCEUS (CArdiosphere-Derived aUtologous stem CElls to reverse ventricUlar dySfunction) trial. ⋯ Intracoronary administration of autologous CDCs did not raise significant safety concerns. Preliminary indications of bioactivity include decreased scar size, increased viable myocardium, and improved regional function of infarcted myocardium at 1 year post-treatment. These results, which are consistent with therapeutic regeneration, merit further investigation in future trials. (CArdiosphere-Derived aUtologous stem CElls to reverse ventricUlar dySfunction [CADUCEUS]; NCT00893360).
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Coronary spasm is an important and often overlooked etiology of chest pain. Although coronary spasm, or Prinzmetal's angina, has been thought of as benign, contemporary studies have shown serious associated adverse outcomes, including acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmia, and death. ⋯ Numerous agents have been historically described for provocative testing. We provide a review of published data for the role of provocation testing in the diagnosis of coronary spasm.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2014
Comparative StudyHead-to-head comparison of 2 myocardial fibrosis biomarkers for long-term heart failure risk stratification: ST2 versus galectin-3.
ST2 and galectin-3 (Gal-3) were compared head-to-head for long-term risk stratification in an ambulatory heart failure (HF) population on top of other risk factors including N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. ⋯ Head-to-head comparison of fibrosis biomarkers ST2 and Gal-3 in chronic HF revealed superiority of ST2 over Gal-3 in risk stratification. The incremental predictive contribution of Gal-3 to existing clinical risk factors was trivial.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyReduction in cardiac mortality with bivalirudin in patients with and without major bleeding: The HORIZONS-AMI trial (Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction).
The purpose of this study was to determine whether, in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the reduction in cardiac mortality in those taking bivalirudin compared with unfractionated heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (UFH+GPI) can be fully attributed to reduced bleeding. ⋯ Bivalirudin reduces cardiac mortality in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, an effect that can only partly be attributed to prevention of bleeding. Further studies are required to identify the nonhematologic benefits of bivalirudin. (Harmonizing Outcomes With Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction; NCT00433966).