Journal of cardiology
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Journal of cardiology · Jul 2012
Depressive symptoms are common and associated with adverse clinical outcomes in heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction.
Little is known about depressive symptoms in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, EF ≥50%). We aimed to assess the prevalence of depression, to clarify the impact of depressive symptoms upon clinical outcomes, and to identify factors associated with these symptoms in HF with reduced EF (HFrEF, EF <50%) and HFpEF. ⋯ Depressive symptoms are common and independently predict adverse events in HFrEF/HFpEF patients. This study suggests that beta-blockers reduce depressive symptoms in HFrEF. In contrast, treatment for depression remains to be elucidated in HFpEF.
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Journal of cardiology · May 2012
Comparative StudyComparison of two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of aortic valve area.
The accuracy of two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D-TEE) for the measurement of aortic valve area (AVA) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) depends upon the cross-section selected for imaging. Real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) may overcome this limitation of 2D-TEE. The goal of this study was to compare 3D-TEE with 2D-TEE for the measurement of AVA. ⋯ The geometric AVA is smaller with 3D-TEE than with 2D-TEE, and the difference is not due to the lower frame rate of 3D-TEE. The improved accuracy of 3D-TEE along with reduced image acquisition time indicates that 3D-TEE is superior to 2D-TEE for the assessment of AVA.
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Journal of cardiology · May 2012
Vereckei criteria used as a diagnostic tool by emergency medicine residents to distinguish between ventricular tachycardia and supra-ventricular tachycardia with aberrancy.
Accurate electrocardiographic (ECG) differentiation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) from supraventricular tachycardia with aberrancy (SVT-A) on ECG is key to therapeutic decision-making in the emergency department (ED) setting. ⋯ The new single lead Vereckei criteria, when applied by emergency medicine residents achieved only fair-to-good individual accuracy and moderate agreement. The addition of clinical information resulted in substantial improvement in test characteristics. Further improvements (accuracy and simplification) of algorithms for differentiating VT from SVT-A would be helpful prior to clinical implementation.
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Journal of cardiology · Mar 2012
ReviewTreatment of Cheyne-Stokes respiration-central sleep apnea in patients with heart failure.
Sleep disordered breathing including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) with Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) is often accompanied by heart failure. Treatment of OSA centered on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is established. However, treatment of CSR-CSA is still controversial. ⋯ Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV), which most effectively treats CSR-CSA, improves exercise capacity, QOL, and cardiac function. Recent reports suggested ASV may also prevent cardiac events in patients with heart failure. However, further studies are needed to conclude that this treatment improves patient survival.
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Journal of cardiology · Mar 2012
Comparative StudyComparing outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass versus drug-eluting stent in diabetic patients.
Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery and sirolimus-eluting stent placement have been widely used for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The goal of this study was to compare long-term outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery or sirolimus-eluting stent placement in diabetic patients with multivessel disease. ⋯ Off-pump coronary artery bypass is superior to sirolimus-eluting stent placement in terms of acute coronary syndrome, target vessel revascularization, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in diabetic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.