Journal of the American Heart Association
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Egr-1 is implicated in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of intracoronary delivery of DNAzyme targeting the transcription factor Egr-1 at reperfusion following experimental myocardial ischemia. ⋯ Egr-1 silencing through intracoronary delivery of a targeting DNAzyme at the time of reperfusion following acute myocardial ischemia decreases myocardial inflammation and apoptosis leading to improved cardiac function.
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Little is known about recovery of female sexual function following an acute myocardial infarction (MI). Interventions to improve sexual outcomes in women are limited. ⋯ Partnered women commonly resume sexual activity soon after an MI with fear but without directed counseling from their physicians. Proactive attention to women's concerns related to sexual function and the safety of sexual activity following an MI could improve post-MI outcomes for women and their partners.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational Study
Provider specialty and atrial fibrillation treatment strategies in United States community practice: findings from the ORBIT-AF registry.
The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) continues to increase; however, there are limited data describing the division of care among practitioners in the community and whether care differs depending on provider specialty. ⋯ Our data demonstrate important differences between provider specialties, the demographics of the AF patient population treated, and treatment strategies-particularly for rhythm control and anticoagulation therapy.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Extent of preoperative false lumen thrombosis does not influence long-term survival in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.
Partial thrombosis of the false lumen has been related to aortic growth, reoperations, and death in the chronic phase of type B and repaired type A aortic dissections. The impact of preoperative false lumen thrombosis has not been studied previously. We used data from a contemporary, multinational database on aortic dissections to evaluate whether different degrees of preoperative false lumen thrombosis influenced long-term prognosis. ⋯ Patients with acute type A aortic dissection who survive to discharge have a favorable prognosis. Preoperative false lumen thrombosis does not influence long-term mortality, reintervention rates, or aortic growth.
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More accurate and reliable stroke risk prediction tools are needed to optimize anticoagulation decision making in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We developed a new AF stroke prediction model using the original Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) AF cohort and externally validated the score in a separate, contemporary, community-based inception AF cohort, ATRIA-Cardiovascular Research Network (CVRN) cohort. ⋯ The ATRIA stroke risk score performed better than existing risk scores, was validated successfully, and showed improvement in predicting severe events, which is of greatest concern. The ATRIA score should improve the antithrombotic decision for patients with AF and should provide a secure foundation for the addition of biomarkers in future prognostic models.