Markers of inflammation, thrombosis and endothelial activation correlate with carotid IMT regression in stable coronary disease after atorvastatin treatment.

Background And Aims: MIAMI is a prospective multicenter clinical study designed to investigate the relationship between changes in carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) and changes in circulating markers of inflammation, thrombosis and endothelial activation in stable coronary patients treated for 20+/-3.7 months with 20mg/day atorvastatin.

Methods And Results: Eighty-five subjects had their C-IMT, blood lipids and soluble markers measured at baseline, at the 12th month and at the end of the study.

E-selectin and TFPI are associated with carotid intima-media thickness in stable IHD patients: the baseline findings of the MIAMI study.

Objective: MIAMI was a prospective multicenter clinical study designed to investigate the relationship between changes in carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) and those in the levels of circulating markers of inflammation, thrombosis and endothelial dysfunction. The study was performed in a group of stable coronary patients treated for two years with a moderate dosage of atorvastatin (20mg/day). In this paper the cross-sectional relationship between C-IMT and the same circulating markers of inflammation, thrombosis and endothelial dysfunction measured at baseline was investigated.

Apolipoprotein A-I breakdown is induced by thrombolysis in coronary patients.

Background: The outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is apparently worse in patients receiving a prior thrombolytic therapy ('facilitated PCI'). Recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) can degrade circulating high-density lipoproteins (HDL) bound apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), thus possibly reducing the vascular protective activity. There have never been reports of the detection of apolipoprotein breakdown products in the circulation.

Combined assessment of left ventricular perfusion and function by gated single-photon emission computed tomography for the risk stratification of high-risk hypertensive patients.

Objective: This study was aimed at verifying whether combined information on left ventricular perfusion and function by electrocardiogram-gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) retains its known prognostic value in patients with systemic hypertension.

Methods: A total of 415 hypertensive patients underwent rest and stress (exercise in 278 and dipyridamole in 137) gated 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT and prospective follow-up for the composite endpoint of death and acute coronary syndrome. Patients undergoing revascularization were censored.

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus: unusual case of spontaneous resolution.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a common echocardiographic finding. Caseous calcification is a rare variant appearing as a round, tumor-like mass with central echolucent area located in the periannular region. Although occasionally misdiagnosed as a tumor and submitted to exploratory cardiotomy, this lesion appears to carry a benign prognosis.

Clinical evaluation of probucol in hypercholesteremia: individual lipoprotein responses and inhibitory effect on carotid atherosclerosis progression.

Probucol treatment has been evaluated in 140 patients with hypercholesterolemia attending a single Lipid Clinic, in an attempt to identify the relations between lipid/lipoprotein responses and patient characteristics. Probucol was administered as a single drug at the standard dose (0.5 g tablets b.

Echocardiographic follow-up in patients with mild to moderate mitral stenosis: is a yearly examination justified?

The result of this study showed that echocardiographic and Doppler parameters in patients with mild to moderate mitral stenosis did not undergo any major changes over a relatively long observation period, reflecting the substantial stability of the valve disease process. Thus, unless such patients experience clinical deterioration, a yearly echocardiographic examination appears to be unjustified.

IPO-V2: a prospective, multicenter, randomized, comparative clinical investigation of the effects of sulodexide in preventing cardiovascular accidents in the first year after acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of sulodexide, a glycosaminoglycan compound with antithrombotic properties, in preventing death and thromboembolic events after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Antithrombotic therapy has been found to play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular events and death after acute myocardial infarction. Glycosaminoglycan-containing compounds, including sulodexide, show profibrinolytic and antithrombotic properties that render them suitable for use in patients after infarction.

[Role of ambulatory ECG in the diagnostic work of a cardiology division].

Holter monitoring may be effected during hospitalization either for clinical research or for high-risk patients or after surgical treatments. In the other cases, if possible, it should be better to effect ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring in patients engaged in their normal daily activity nevertheless reducing hospital costs. Last year, in our department we effected 2420 Holter monitoring, of which 44% for patients hospitalized in our department, 11% hospitalized in other divisions, 44% for ambulatory patients.

Monitored long-term treatment with ibopamine in patients suffering from severe congestive heart failure.

50 patients with congestive heart failure underwent monitored long-term treatment aimed at evaluating the effect of ibopamine (SB-7505), the 3,4-diisobutyryl ester of N-methyldopamine, on their condition. Ibopamine was administered alone or in combination with traditional therapy mainly at a dose of 100 mg t.i.

Effects of digoxin, placebo and ibopamine on exercise tolerance and cardiac rhythm of patients with chronic post-infarct left ventricular failure.

This study compares the effects of digoxin, placebo and ibopamine (SB-7505), the orally active 3,4-diisobutyryl ester of N-methyl-dopamine, on exercise tolerance and cardiac rhythm of 14 patients whose left ventricular heart failure (end-diastolic pressure, 26.3 +/- 5.9 mmHg; ejection fraction, 0.

Effects of ibopamine on systemic, pulmonary and regional hemodynamics. Experimental investigations in anesthetized dogs.

The effects of a new orally effective dopamine-like derivative, ibopamine (SB-7505), the 3,4-diisobutyryl ester of N-methyldopamine, on the cardiovascular system were investigated in anesthetized dogs. Ibopamine increased dose-dependently stroke volume index, cardiac index, left ventricular pressure, its first derivative: dP/dt, peak velocity left ventricular ejection and renal blood flow. After beta-blockade the positive inotropic effect of ibopamine is inhibited.

Effects of ibopamine on heart performance: a radionuclide ventriculography study in patients with idiopathic dilatative cardiomyopathy.

The effects of ibopamine (SB-7505, Ib), a new orally active 3,4-diisobutyryl ester of N-methyldopamine, were studied in 8 patients aged between 34-56 years with idiopathic dilatative cardiomyopathy (II-III New York Heart Association Class) diagnosed by means of right and left heart catheterization and selective coronary angiography. Equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (RVG) was performed in baseline conditions and 1, 2, and 3 h after the administration of a single oral dose of 200-300 mg of Ib. After 2 h Ib increased cardiac output (CO) (+16%, p less than 0.

Haemodynamic, radionuclide ventriculography and ergometric evaluation of captopril treatment in congestive heart failure.

Eight patients with NYHA Class II congestive heart failure were studied before and after captopril with right heart catheterization, cycloergometric stress tests and radionuclide 99Tc cineventriculography. Acute administration of captopril increased stroke volume and cardiac index and reduced left ventricular filling pressure. Similar changes though less marked were seen after 30 days of captopril therapy.

Acute haemodynamic effects of ibopamine in patients with severe congestive heart failure.

Ten patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), in III and IV NYHA Class, were treated orally with a single dose of ibopamine ranging from 1.2-3.3 mg/kg, and were studied using the Swan-Ganz catheter and thermodilution technique.

[Echocardiographic and polygraphic study of acute/effects of Ibopamine on cardiac performance].

The effects of Ibopamine, a new orally active dopaminergic agent, on cardiac performance were studied both in a group of healthy volunteers and in a group of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), using non-invasive methods, such as echocardiography and polygraphy. Randomly, and in double-blind fashion, the healthy volunteers received single doses of Ibopamine 50, 100 and 150 mg orally every 3 days. The CHF patients, also randomly and in double-blind fashion, were given single doses of either placebo or Ibopamine 100 or 150 mg every 2 days.

[Malignant ventricular hyperkinetic arrhythmias. Classificational criteria: review of Lown's classification. Polycentric study].

Although Lown grading system of ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) has important conceptual shortcomings and has shown severe limitations in either cross-sectional or longitudinal studies, this classification is still the most well-known and used method to characterize the arrhythmologic ventricular pattern of the individual patient. We have looked at a modification of VPCs Lown grading scheme to correct the defects and to make the use of the classification more accurate. Our proposal is based on maintenance of 5 classes--similar to those of Lown original classification--to which we have assigned a score from 0 to 60.

Renal effect of SB 7505: a double-blind study.

Two groups of 20 patients with no evidence of cardiovascular, hepatic, renal or gastrointestinal failure were treated orally for five days with placebo or SB 7505 100 mg/day. No change was observed in heart rate or blood pressure. Urine output, the excretion of Na, K and Cl, and creatinine clearance were significantly increased.