American heart journal
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American heart journal · Dec 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyDesign and rationale of CURRENT-OASIS 7: a randomized, 2 x 2 factorial trial evaluating optimal dosing strategies for clopidogrel and aspirin in patients with ST and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes managed with an early invasive strategy.
Antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) reduces major cardiovascular events in patients with ST and non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Recent mechanistic and clinical data suggest that higher loading and maintenance doses of clopidogrel may achieve a more rapid and greater degree of platelet inhibition that translates into improved clinical outcomes, but this is yet to be formally evaluated in an adequately powered randomized trial. ⋯ The CURRENT-OASIS 7 trial will help to define optimal dosing regimens for clopidogrel and ASA in patients with ST and non-ST-segment-elevation ACS treated with an early invasive strategy.
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American heart journal · Nov 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialIncentive spirometry with expiratory positive airway pressure reduces pulmonary complications, improves pulmonary function and 6-minute walk distance in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
The use of the incentive spirometry (IS) with expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is not well established. This study sought to determine the effects of IS+EPAP after CABG. ⋯ In patients undergoing CABG, IS+EPAP results in improved pulmonary function and 6-minute walk distance as well as a reduction in PPC.
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American heart journal · Oct 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyNephrotoxicity of iodixanol versus ioversol in patients with chronic kidney disease: the Visipaque Angiography/Interventions with Laboratory Outcomes in Renal Insufficiency (VALOR) Trial.
Iso-osmolar contrast medium iodixanol has been reported to be less nephrotoxic than selected low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with diabetes mellitus. This study compared the nephrotoxicity of iodixanol and the LOCM ioversol in CKD patients undergoing coronary angiography. ⋯ Overall, the nephrotoxicity associated with iodixanol was not significantly different from that observed with ioversol in CKD patients undergoing coronary angiography, although in diabetic patients, MPPC was significantly lower in the iodixanol group.
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American heart journal · Aug 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyVerapamil-sustained release-based treatment strategy is equivalent to atenolol-based treatment strategy at reducing cardiovascular events in patients with prior myocardial infarction: an INternational VErapamil SR-Trandolapril (INVEST) substudy.
In patients with prior myocardial infarction (MI), beta-blockers reduce mortality by 23% to 40%. However, despite this favorable effect, adverse effects limit compliance to this medication. The purpose of the study was to compare a beta-blocker-based strategy with a heart rate-lowering calcium antagonists-based strategy in patients with prior MI. ⋯ In hypertensive patients with prior MI, a verapamil-SR-based strategy was equivalent to a beta-blocker-based strategy for blood pressure control and prevention of cardiovascular events, with greater subjective feeling of well-being and a trend toward lower incidence of angina pectoris and stroke in the verapamil-SR-based group.
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American heart journal · Aug 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyUsefulness of 64-slice multidetector computed tomography as an initial diagnostic approach in patients with acute chest pain.
Recently, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has been proposed as an accurate diagnostic tool to evaluate for coronary artery disease. However, the role of MDCT as part of the initial diagnostic for evaluating acute chest pain is less well established. ⋯ Use of an MDCT-based strategy in the ED as part of the initial diagnostic approach for patients presenting with acute chest pain is safe and efficiently reduces avoidable admissions in patients with an intermediate pretest probability for ACS.