Journal of cardiology
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Journal of cardiology · Apr 2014
Safety and efficacy of adaptive servo-ventilation in patients with severe systolic heart failure.
It is unclear whether adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) is safe and effective in patients with severe systolic heart failure (HF). Our aim in this study was to estimate the safety and efficacy of ASV therapy for patients with severe systolic HF. ⋯ Our study demonstrated that ASV therapy is safe and effective for use in very severe systolic HF patients as well as in relatively mild systolic HF patients.
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Journal of cardiology · Apr 2014
Long-term adherence to nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy by hypertensive patients with preexisting sleep apnea.
Although positive screening for and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been recommended for patients with cardiovascular problems, patient adherence to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy primarily for a cardiovascular concern is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the adherence to CPAP therapy by hypertensive patients with OSA after a screening test performed regardless of OSA-related symptoms. ⋯ The adherence and use level in this population may not be satisfactory but are comparable with those in previous sleep center reports treating symptomatic OSA patients. Thus, the present results would encourage hypertensive patients to undergo positive screening for OSA, regardless of OSA-related symptoms. However, an outcomes study with the same cohort is needed.
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Journal of cardiology · Apr 2014
Clinical impact of acute hyperglycemia on development of diabetes mellitus in non-diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Acute hyperglycemia (AH) after the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a manifestation of transient abnormal glucose metabolism that may reflect AMI severity, and thus be a predictor of poor prognosis. However, it remains unknown whether AH may predict development of de novo diabetes mellitus (dn-DM) in non-diabetic AMI patients. ⋯ Admission AH was a predictor of dn-DM in non-diabetic post-AMI patients. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors were associated with reduced incidence of dn-DM in post-AMI patients with AH.
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Syncope is one of the most common reasons for emergency department and urgent care clinic visits. The management of syncope continues to be a challenging problem for front-line providers inasmuch as there are a multitude of possible causes for syncope ranging from relatively benign conditions to potentially life-threatening ones. In any event, it is important to identify those syncope patients who are at immediate risk of life-threatening events; these individuals require prompt hospitalization and thorough evaluation. Conversely, it is equally important to avoid unnecessary hospitalization of low-risk patients since unneeded hospital care adds to the healthcare cost burden. ⋯ This review summarizes the findings of various risk-stratification studies and points out key differences between them. While, the existing risk-stratification methods cannot replace critical assessment by an experienced physician, they do provide valuable guidance. In addition, the various risk-assessment schemes highlight the need for careful initial clinical assessment of syncope patients, selective testing, and being mindful of the short- and long-term risks.
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Journal of cardiology · Mar 2014
Comparative StudyComparison of immediate results and mid-term follow-up of surgical and percutaneous closure of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.
The past decade has witnessed considerable improvement in implantation techniques for percutaneous closure of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. This study was undertaken to compare the immediate results and mid-term follow-up of traditional surgery and percutaneous closure of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm in China. ⋯ Percutaneous closure is an attractive alternative to surgery in selected patients with ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm for the better clinical advantages and economic benefits.