Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
Plasma angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, and angiopoietin receptor tie-2 levels in congestive heart failure.
The goal of this research was to test the hypothesis that plasma angiopoietin (Ang-1), its soluble receptor tie-2, and Ang-2 levels would be abnormal in patients with acute and chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) when compared with healthy controls. ⋯ We have demonstrated abnormal levels of Ang-2 and tie-2, but normal Ang-1, in both CHF patients. These abnormalities may, alongside VEGF, indicate a role for these angiogenic factors in the pathophysiology of CHF.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
Contemporary results of mitral valve repair for infective endocarditis.
We sought to evaluate the feasibility and immediate and late results of mitral valve repair (MVRep) for acute and healed endocarditis. ⋯ Mitral valve repair is frequently feasible and gives good results in patients with infective endocarditis. Patients operated on for acute endocarditis experience more events during follow-up than those operated on after healed endocarditis but have excellent late survival.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
Racial variation in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation among patients with heart failure: the Epidemiology, Practice, Outcomes, and Costs of Heart Failure (EPOCH) study.
This study was designed to determine the association between race and atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients with heart failure (HF). ⋯ In a contemporary HF cohort, AF was significantly less common among African Americans than among Caucasians. This variation was not explained by differences in traditional risk factors for AF, HF etiology and severity, and treatment.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2004
Clinical TrialEptifibatide provides additional platelet inhibition in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients already treated with aspirin and clopidogrel. Results of the platelet activity extinction in non-Q-wave myocardial infarction with aspirin, clopidogrel, and eptifibatide (PEACE) study.
The present study hypothesis was that eptifibatide offered further antiplatelet efficacy above clopidogrel in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients before an expeditive coronary intervention. ⋯ The activated GP IIb/IIIa expression and fibrinogen binding findings indicate that eptifibatide provides significant potent antiplatelet activity above aspirin and clopidogrel, suggesting additive immediate protection in the treatment of NSTEMI. The P2 and P-selectin findings suggest the possibility of a partial agonist and/or pro-inflammatory effect.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Dec 2003
N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in relation to inflammation, myocardial necrosis, and the effect of an invasive strategy in unstable coronary artery disease.
We sought to examine whether measurements of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), in addition to cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), improve the ability to identify high-risk patients who benefit from an early invasive strategy. ⋯ N-terminal proBNP is independently associated with mortality. The combination of NT-proBNP and IL-6 seems to be a useful tool in the identification of patients with a definite survival benefit from an early invasive strategy. Only cTnT is independently associated with future MI and a reduction of MI by an invasive strategy.