Acta cardiologica
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The exact causes of death in India are not known because autopsy studies are difficult to conduct due to religious considerations. There are rapid changes in diet and lifestyle amongst social classes causing changes in the pattern of risk factors and mortality. In the present study, we attempt to develop a verbal autopsy questionnaire based on medical records and interview of a family member, for the assessment of causes of death, social class, tobacco consumption and dietary intakes among urban decedents in north India. ⋯ This study indicates that causes of death, social class, tobacco and dietary intakes, can be accurately assessed by a modified verbal autopsy questionnaire based on medical records and by interview of family members. Circulatory diseases, injury-accidents and maligant diseases have become the major causes of death in India, apart from infections.
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Domperidone is a dopamine antagonist with anti-nausea and anti-emetic activity. There have been several reports of sudden cardiac death (SCD) associated with the compound. Recently it was estimated to increase SCD nearly fourfold. I therefore tested domperidone for liability of cardiac repolarization disturbances (triangulation, reverse use dependence, instability and dispersion or TRIaD) and induction of arrhythmias. ⋯ In light of these new preclinical and of recent clinical warnings, domperidone should best be restricted to patients in whom its benefit is proven to justify the risks. Availability without prescription and advertising as an 'innocent' relief is incorrect and unsafe, and needs to be reconsidered.
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It has been reported that Brugada syndrome is responsible for about half of the sudden cardiac death events with no evidence of structural heart disease. We report a case of hidden ECG Brugada pattern, revealed after oral propafenone administration in the setting of pharmaceutical atrial fibrillation cardioversion.
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We present a 47-year-old woman with inappropriate sinus tachycardia. Initial treatment with beta blockers was not successful. The patient became asymptomatic and tachycardia resolved with ivabradine. In this report we review the potential role of ivabradine in the treatment of inappropriate sinus tachycardia.
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Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is characterized by normal serum free T4 (fT4), free T3 (fT3) levels and increased serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.The aim of this study was to assess the validity of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in evaluating cardiac effects of SH and to demonstrate the improving effects of L-thyroxin(L-T4) on TDI parameters. ⋯ SH is associated with biventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction. IVA which is an accurate estimate of subclinical systolic dysfunction, was significantly impaired in the left ventricle and had improved after L-T4 therapy. We found that IVA is able to detect early effects of subclinical hypothyroidism on LV systolic functions and L-T4 therapy can improve ventricular functions.