In-Hospital influenza vaccination to prevent cardiorespiratory events in the first 45 days after acute coronary syndrome: A prespecified analysis of the VIP-ACS trial.

Background: Influenza vaccination prevents major cardiovascular events in individuals presenting a recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS), however the early effect of an in-hospital double-dose vaccination strategy remains uncertain.

Methods: The VIP-ACS was a randomized, pragmatic, multicenter, open-label trial with a blinded-adjudication endpoint. Patients with ACS ≤ 7 days of hospitalization were randomized to an in-hospital double-dose quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (double-dose) or a standard-dose influenza vaccine at 30 days post-randomization.

Worsening Renal Function and Congestion in Patients with Acute Heart Failure: A Study with Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) and Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL).

Background: Worsening renal function (WRF) is frequently observed in the setting of aggressive diuresis for the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and is associated with poor outcomes in some studies.

Objective: We sought to assess the relationship of WRF and congestion at discharge with events (cardiac death or heart failure hospitalization).

Methods: Eighty patients with ADHF were studied.

Effects of Heart Rate Reduction With Either Pyridostigmine or Ivabradine in Patients With Heart Failure: A Randomized, Double-Blind Study.

Background: Heart rate (HR) reduction with ivabradine has been proved to reduce hospitalization and death from heart failure (HF). We sought to investigate whether pyridostigmine would effectively reduce HR in patients with chronic HF as compared with ivabradine.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with HF who were in sinus rhythm with a resting HR over 70 bpm, despite optimal medical treatment, were included in a randomized, double-blind study comparing pyridostigmine versus ivabradine.

Usefulness of combining admission brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) plus hospital discharge bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in predicting 90 days cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute heart failure.

Heart failure is a disease characterized by high prevalence and mortality, and frequent rehospitalizations. The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic power of combining brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and congestion status detected by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in acute heart failure patients. This is an observational, prospective, and a multicentre study.

Elevated Heart Rate is Associated with Cardiac Denervation in Patients with Heart Failure: A 123-Iodine-MIBG Myocardial Scintigraphy Study.

Background:: In the Systolic Heart Failure Treatment With the If Inhibitor Ivabradine Trial (SHIFT), heart rate (HR) reduction with ivabradine was associated with improved survival and reduced hospitalizations in patients with heart failure (HF). The mechanisms by which elevated HR increases mortality are not fully understood.

Objective:: To assess the relationship of baseline HR with clinical, neurohormonal and cardiac sympathetic activity in patients with chronic HF and elevated HR.

High on-treatment platelet reactivity predicts cardiac events in patients with drug-eluting stents.

Background: The role of platelet reactivity (PR) tests in the prediction of long-term events in Latin-American patients treated with drug-eluting stents (DES) has not been established.

Objectives: To assess the role of PR tests in the prediction of events after DES implantation.

Methods: From May 2006 through January 2008, 209 Brazilian patients who underwent elective treatment with DES were included.

Transthoracic impedance compared to magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of cardiac output.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is considered the gold-standard method for the calculation of cardiac volumes. Transthoracic impedance cardiography assesses the cardiac output. No studies validating this measurement, in comparison to that obtained by magnetic resonance imaging, are available.