Journal of cardiology
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Journal of cardiology · Dec 2015
Predictive value of biomarkers for the prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism in Japanese patients: Results of the Tokyo CCU Network registry.
Several studies from Western countries have reported associations between cardiac troponin and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and acute pulmonary embolism prognosis; however, the number of such reports from Asian countries, including Japan, is limited. Thus, we evaluated the relationship between blood biochemical findings and acute-phase pulmonary embolism prognosis in Japanese patients. ⋯ Troponin, BNP, and blood glucose levels are useful prognostic biomarkers for acute pulmonary embolism in Japanese patients.
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Journal of cardiology · Oct 2015
ReviewInterventional and surgical therapeutic strategies for pulmonary arterial hypertension: Beyond palliative treatments.
Despite significant advances in pharmacological treatments, pulmonary arterial hypertension remains an incurable disease with an unreasonably high morbidity and mortality. Although specific pharmacotherapies have shifted the survival curves of patients and improved exercise endurance as well as quality of life, it is also true that these pharmacological interventions are not always accessible (particularly in developing countries) and, perhaps most importantly, not all patients respond similarly to these drugs. Furthermore, many patients will continue to deteriorate and will eventually require an additional, non-pharmacological, intervention. In this review we analyze the role of atrial septostomy and Potts anastomosis in the management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, we summarize the current worldwide clinical experience (case reports and case series), and discuss why these interventional/surgical strategies might have a therapeutic role beyond that of a "bridge" to transplantation.
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Journal of cardiology · Oct 2015
Major adverse cardiac and bleeding events associated with non-cardiac surgery in coronary artery disease patients with or without prior percutaneous coronary intervention.
The optimal preoperative therapeutic strategy for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important concern in the era of drug-eluting stents and antiplatelet therapy. However, there are few studies about the impact of prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on perioperative major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and bleeding events associated with oral antiplatelet therapy. The aim of this study was to examine the risks and benefits of performing PCI before non-cardiac surgery (NCS) in patients with CAD. ⋯ The rate of MACEs following NCS was not significantly different between the PCI and no-PCI groups, while the rate of bleeding events was higher in the PCI group without reaching statistical significance. This study suggests that patients with stable CAD may be able to safely undergo NCS without revascularization even in the presence of significant coronary artery stenosis.
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Journal of cardiology · Sep 2015
Assessment of respiratory disturbance index determined with a non-restrictive monitor and of autonomic nervous system parameters in heart failure patients: A pilot study.
There is a link between sympathetic overactivity and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and both of which are important indicators of the development of heart failure. To manage the increasing numbers of heart failure patients, any method used to check for them needs to be as non-invasive, simple, and cost-effective as possible. The purpose of this study is to assess screening of SDB with a non-restrictive monitor and the autonomic nervous system in heart failure patients. ⋯ SAS screening is important for heart failure patients, because absence of subjective sleepiness is not reliable in ruling out SDB. The SAS screening with SD-101 might apply for managing heart failure.
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Journal of cardiology · Aug 2015
Clinical features and in-hospital mortality associated with different types of atrial fibrillation in patients with acute coronary syndrome with and without ST elevation.
In patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), no conclusive agreement has been reached to date regarding the association between the different types of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the in-hospital mortality risk. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in patients with ACS to determine the prognostic implications of the different types of AF. ⋯ Among the different types of AF in patients with ACS, only the new-onset AF that developed during the CCU stay in patients with NSTE-ACS was associated with a 4.40-fold increase in the in-hospital mortality risk.