Kardiol Pol
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Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are increasingly used for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) worldwide. Few articles have compared current understanding of AF patients about the disease and anticoagulant therapy in relation to the medications used. ⋯ The knowledge of arrhythmia and anticoagulation is better regarding the safety issues among subjects on NOACs compared with those on VKAs. Irrespective of the type of oral anticoagulation therapy, education of AF patients should be improved.
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Nocturnal hypertension and non-dipping pattern are often associated with endothelial dysfunction. Previous studies suggested that adropin, a novel secreted energy homeostasis protein, has the unique ability to regulate endothelial cell function. ⋯ Decreased adropin levels were found in the nocturnal hypertensive and non-dipper groups. Adropin and hsCRP were found to be independently associated with a non-dipping pattern. We suggest that decreased levels of adropin in non-dipper hypertensive patients might be associated with a longer duration of exposure to high BP. These results point to a possible future role of adropin in identifying hypertensive patients at higher risk of target organ damage.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of clinical characteristics of real-life atrial fibrillation patients treated with vitamin K antagonists, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban: results from the CRAFT study.
The first-line drugs for the treatment of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) are non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), which are preferred over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). There is some evidence that there are dis-crepancies between everyday clinical practice and the guidelines. ⋯ The prescription of VKAs declined significantly after the introduction of NOACs. Patients treated with different OACs demonstrated a distinct baseline clinical profile. The highest risk of thromboembolic events and incidence of major bleedings was observed in patients on rivaroxaban, in comparison to patients on VKAs and dabigatran. Among NOACs, patients treated with lower doses of dabigatran and rivaroxaban were older and had a significantly higher risk of thromboembolic and bleeding events.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The impact of the use of a CPRMeter monitor on quality of chest compressions: a prospective randomised trial, cross-simulation.
Drowning is a common issue at many pools and beaches, and in seas all over the world. Lifeguards often act as bystanders, and therefore adequate training in high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of adequate equip-ment by lifeguards is essential. ⋯ Using the visual real-time feedback device significantly improved quality of CPR in our relatively unexperienced CPR providers. Better quality of bystander CPR is essential for clinical outcomes, and therefore feedback devices should be considered. Further clinical studies are needed to assess the effect of real-time visual devices, especially in bystander-CPR.
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Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a leading arrhythmia with high incidence and serious clinical implications after cardiac surgery. Cardiac surgery is associated with systemic inflammatory response including increase in cytokines and activation of endothelial and leukocyte responses. ⋯ Perioperative inflammation is proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of POAF. Therefore, perioperative assessment of CRP, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 can help clinicians in terms of predicting and monitoring for POAF.