Focus cardiac ultrasound: the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging viewpoint.

The concept of point-of-care, problem-oriented focus cardiac ultrasound examination (FoCUS) is increasingly applied in the settings of medical emergencies, including cardiac diseases. The European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) recognizes that cardiologists are not the only medical professionals dealing with cardiovascular emergencies. In reality, emergency cardiac diagnostics and treatment are also carried out by a wide range of specialists.

Left ventricular anatomical and functional changes with ageing in type 2 diabetic adults.

Aims: Previous studies indicate that diabetic patients show evidence of coexisting systolic and diastolic myocardial dysfunction when examined by new echocardiographic techniques. Yet, there is no systematic investigation of the serial age-related changes of left ventricular anatomy and function in this patient population.

Methods And Results: One hundred and sixty type 2 diabetic patients and 110 non-diabetic controls, all with no evidence of heart disease, were studied.

Thorough clinical investigation of low cardiac output syndrome after subxiphoid pericardiostomy.

The paradoxical hemodynamic response after surgical or catheter pericardial drainage for cardiac tamponade is an infrequent complication. This case report describes this occasional ominous consequence of surgical pericardial decompression and suggests possible physiological explanations of rapidly progressive heart failure and death.

Sildenafil versus Endothelin Receptor Antagonist for Pulmonary Hypertension (SERAPH) study.

Rationale: Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibition has been proposed for the treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Objective: This study compared adding sildenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor, to conventional treatment with the current practice of adding bosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with PAH, idiopathic or associated with connective tissue disease, World Health Organization (WHO) functional class III, were randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive sildenafil (50 mg twice daily for 4 weeks, then 50 mg three times daily) or bosentan (62.

C-reactive protein and rapidly progressive coronary artery disease--is there any relation?

Background: High plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been associated with an unfavorable outcome in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and a direct participation of CRP in the atherosclerotic process has been postulated.

Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship of high plasma CRP levels with the rapid progression of coronary atherosclerosis (RPCAD).

Methods: In all, 194 patients who were readmitted and underwent repeat coronary angiography because of recurrence of symptoms following successful percutaneous coronary intervention were studied.

C-reactive protein levels on admission are associated with response to thrombolysis and prognosis after ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Several studies have shown the independent association of high plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with an adverse prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, the possible association of plasma CRP levels with response to thrombolysis and short- and long-term cardiac mortality has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate these possible associations.

Intensive insulin treatment reduces transient ischaemic episodes during acute coronary events in diabetic patients.

Objectives: This study tested the impact of intensive metabolic treatment with insulin on transient myocardial ischaemia detected with continuous 12-lead ST-segment monitoring during non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods And Results: The study included 57 type 2 diabetic patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.Twenty-eight patients randomized to conventional treatment plus intensive insulin therapy (group A) and twenty-nine to conventional therapy only (group B).

The impact of plasma levels of C-reactive protein, lipoprotein (a) and homocysteine on the long-term prognosis after successful coronary stenting: The Global Evaluation of New Events and Restenosis After Stent Implantation Study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of high plasma levels of either C-reactive protein (CRP), lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]) or total homocysteine (tHCY) with the long-term prognosis after successful coronary stenting (CS).

Background: High plasma levels of either CRP, Lp(a) or tHCY may have an impact in coronary artery disease. However, long-term prospective data after coronary stenting (CS) are limited.