Impact of early tirofiban administration on myocardial salvage in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing infarct-related artery stenting.

Background/aims: The timing of GpIIb/IIIa inhibitor administration may be important in achieving early epicardial and myocardial reperfusion. We evaluated the effect of early tirofiban on myocardial salvage and cardiovascular outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing infarct-related artery stenting.

Methods: Patients (n = 66) with a first AMI presenting <6 h from onset of symptoms were randomized to either early administration of tirofiban in the emergency room (n = 32) or later administration in the catheterization laboratory (n = 34) (tirofiban bolus dose of 10 microg/kg, followed by 0.

Effect of hormone replacement therapy on plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins, endothelial function and myocardial perfusion in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-alpha IVS1-397 C/C genotype and established coronary artery disease.

Unlabelled: Effect of hormone replacement (HRT) therapy on plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins, endothelial function and myocardial perfusion in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) IVS1-397 C/C genotype and established coronary artery disease.

Background/aims: Associations between various ER-alpha polymorphisms and clinical phenotypes have been studied, including lipid levels and coronary atherosclerosis. We studied 48 postmenopausal women to determine the effect of ER-alpha IVS1-397 polymorphism on the response to treatment with HRT.

Congestive heart failure due to traumatic arteriovenous fistula--two case reports.

Arteriovenous fistulas are abnormal connections between the high-pressure and high-resistance arterial system and the venous system with opposite features. Due to its lower resistance, the blood preferentially flows via the fistula rather than through the capillary bed. The amount of shunt flow depends on its size and proximity to the heart.

Long-term prognostic value of stress-redistribution-reinjection Tl-201 imaging in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the long-term prognostic significance of stress-redistribution-reinjection Tl-201 imaging in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Preoperative stress-redistribution-reinjection Tl-201 imaging detects viable but asynergic segments which show functional improvement postoperatively and is considered as a valuable noninvasive method in selection of patients with severe LV dysfunction for revascularization. The long-term prognostic value of the reinjection technique remains unclear.

Impact of body iron status on myocardial perfusion, left ventricular function, and angiographic morphologic features in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Previous studies have shown that the effects of iron stores on atherogenesis through promotion of free radical formation and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation largely depend on the state of hypercholesterolemia (HCL) in animal models. A synergistic association of serum ferritin and LDL cholesterol with the risk of myocardial infarction has also been observed in humans.

Methods: We sought to assess the relationship of serum iron parameters to myocardial perfusion and wall motion abnormalities and to the extent of angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with HCL.