Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of the effects of qili qiangxin capsules in patients with chronic heart failure.
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of qili qiangxin capsules in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). ⋯ On a background of standard treatment, qili qiangxin capsules further reduced the levels of NT-proBNP. Together, our data suggest that qili qiangxin capsules could be used in combination therapy for CHF.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2013
Right ventricular dysfunction and remodeling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease without pulmonary hypertension.
The aim of the present study was to elucidate right ventricular (RV) function and structure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) without pulmonary hypertension (PH). ⋯ The present study showed that impaired RV systolic function, hypertrophy, and dilation were present even at a slight increase of mPAP, which indicates an early impact on RV function and structure in patients with COPD. RV isovolumic acceleration, performance index, and strain could detect subclinical disease and separate controls from those with no PH.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2013
Meta AnalysisAortic stenosis in the elderly: disease prevalence and number of candidates for transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a meta-analysis and modeling study.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of aortic stenosis (AS) in the elderly and to estimate the current and future number of candidates for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). ⋯ With a pooled prevalence of 3.4%, the burden of disease among the elderly due to severe AS is substantial. Under the current indications, approximately 290,000 elderly patients with severe AS are TAVR candidates. Nearly 27,000 patients become eligible for TAVR annually.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2013
Right, but not left, bundle branch block is associated with large anteroseptal scar.
This study sought to test the hypothesis that right bundle branch block (RBBB) patients have larger scar size than left bundle branch block (LBBB) patients do. ⋯ In patients with LV ejection fraction ≤35%, RBBB is associated with significantly larger scar size than LBBB is, and occlusion of a proximal LAD septal perforator causes RBBB. In contrast, LBBB is most commonly caused by nonischemic pathologies.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2013
Comparative StudyElectrical storm in idiopathic ventricular fibrillation is associated with early repolarization.
This study sought to characterize patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) who develop electrical storms. ⋯ The VF storms in the IVF patients were highly associated with J waves that showed augmentation prior to the VF onset. Isoproterenol was effective in controlling VF and attenuated the J waves, which diminished to below the diagnostic level during follow-up. VF recurred in patients followed up without antiarrhythmic agents.