American journal of cardiovascular drugs : drugs, devices, and other interventions
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Feb 2018
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTargeting the Prostacyclin Pathway with Selexipag in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Receiving Double Combination Therapy: Insights from the Randomized Controlled GRIPHON Study.
In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), combination therapy is an important treatment strategy. Although randomized controlled trial data are available to support the combination of two therapies, data regarding triple combination therapy are few. ⋯ NCT01106014.
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Feb 2018
ReviewBenefit-Risk Assessment of Crataegus Extract WS 1442: An Evidence-Based Review.
Preparations from Crataegus (hawthorn) have a long history in the treatment of heart failure. WS 1442 is a dry extract from hawthorn leaves with flowers (4-6.6:1), extraction solvent of ethanol 45% (w/w), adjusted to 17.3-20.1% of oligomeric procyanidins. Nonclinical studies show that WS 1442 has positive inotropic and antiarrhythmic properties and protects the myocardium from ischemic damage, reperfusion injury, and hypertension-related hypertrophy, improves endothelial functions such as NO synthesis, and delays endothelial senescence. ⋯ WS 1442 may thus help to close the therapeutic gap between systolic and diastolic heart failure for which evidence of efficacy for other cardioactive drugs is sparse. Scientific evidence shows that WS 1442 is safe and has a beneficial effect in patients with heart failure corresponding to New York Heart Association classes II or III. The benefit-risk assessment for WS 1442 is therefore positive.
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Dec 2017
Comparison of Prescribing Practices with Direct Acting Oral Anticoagulant Protocols.
The goal of anticoagulation management programs is to prevent thrombosis while minimizing the risks of hemorrhage. Direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) selectively inhibit coagulation proteins to inhibit thrombosis. Previous studies suggest patient monitoring and education provided through anticoagulation services enhance adherence and decrease adverse outcomes in patients receiving DOAC therapy. ⋯ A significant proportion of DOAC prescriptions did not adhere to protocol expectations. While enrollment in DOAC management through the Marshfield Clinic Anticoagulation Service was not associated with increased adherence to protocols, opportunities exist to optimize DOAC prescribing. Defining ideal DOAC management requires additional research.
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Aug 2017
ReviewManagement of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: Current Challenges and Future Directions.
Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is the most common form of HF in patients older than 65 years. Among elderly women living in the community, HFpEF comprises nearly 90% of incident HF cases. The health and economic impact of HFpEF is at least as great as that of HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), with similar severity of acute hospitalization rates and substantial mortality. ⋯ Unlike the management of HFrEF, there is a paucity of large evidence-based trials demonstrating morbidity and mortality benefit for the treatment of HFpEF. The agents tested in trials to date, which were based upon an incomplete understanding of the pathophysiology of HFpEF, have not been positive. There is an urgent need to understand HFpEF pathophysiology and to focus on developing novel therapeutic targets.
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Aug 2017
ReviewThe 100 Most Influential Papers in the Field of Thrombolytic Therapy: A Bibliometric Analysis.
Bibliometric analyses are used by researchers and research funding agencies to help determine areas of greatest interest, and consequently which topics and domains warrant increased research attention. Bibliometric analyses have similarly been published in a number of clinical subspecialties concerning areas of specific medical interest; however, a thorough literature search revealed that such a study has been absent in the field of thrombolytics to date. To bridge this gap, we conducted a citation analysis of the 100 most influential articles on thrombolytics. ⋯ Our analysis provides insight into the span of research activity and the nature of inquiry dealing with 'thrombolytic therapy,' with the hope that such analysis may help to effectively guide future research. Our analysis also yielded a list of the most highly cited and presumably most impactful guideline articles within this field, for distinct consideration.