The effects of a self-regulation programme on self-care behaviour in patients with heart failure: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Self-care behaviour is important for patients with heart failure to prevent disease progression. More than half of patients have poor self-care behaviour. Self-regulation theory emphasizes that patients need to initiate monitoring of their symptoms, identify their own problems, and perform appropriate self-care behaviour.

Chest pain after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable angina.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been widely used to treat acute coronary syndrome but is only recommended as an additional treatment to medical therapy and risk modification in patients with refractory or progressing angina. The number of PCI in this patient population is still increasing. Post-PCI chest pain (PPCP) is one of the common problems of PCI.

GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and GSTA1 genetic variants are not associated with coronary artery disease in Taiwan.

Background And Objective: The genetic variants of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, such as those encoded by glutathione-S-transferase (GST) genes, may be associated with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). To investigate the genetic factors for CAD, we examined the GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and GSTA1 genotypes in a CAD cohort in Taiwan.

Methods: Our study included 458 CAD participants and 209 control participants who received coronary angiography to assess CAD.

A comparison of non-HDL and LDL cholesterol goal attainment in a large, multinational patient population: the Lipid Treatment Assessment Project 2.

Objective: This study evaluated the success in attaining non-HDL-cholesterol (non-HDL-C) goals in the multinational L-TAP 2 study.

Methods: 9955 patients ≥20 years of age with dyslipidemia on stable lipid-lowering therapy were enrolled from nine countries.

Results: Success rates for non-HDL-C goals were 86% in low, 70% in moderate, and 52% in high-risk patients (63% overall).

Comparison of lipid profiles and attainment of lipid goals in patients <65 years versus patients ≥65 years (from the Lipid Treatment Assessment Project [L-TAP] 2).

There is a well-established link between dyslipidemia and cardiovascular events, although this risk is modified by age. Little is known about how treatment of dyslipidemia and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol goal attainment differ between older and younger patients. We obtained clinical data from 9,926 dyslipidemic patients across 9 countries in North and Latin America, Europe, and Asia from 2006 through 2007.

A novel role of sesamol in inhibiting NF-κB-mediated signaling in platelet activation.

Background: Platelet activation is relevant to a variety of coronary heart diseases. Our previous studies revealed that sesamol possesses potent antiplatelet activity through increasing cyclic AMP formation. Although platelets are anucleated cells, they also express the transcription factor, NF-κB, that may exert non-genomic functions in platelet activation.

Reaching C-reactive protein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals in dyslipidemic patients (from the Lipid Treatment Assessment Project [L-TAP] 2).

The purpose of the present substudy of the Lipid Treatment Assessment Project 2 was to assess dual C-reactive protein (CRP) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol goal attainment across a spectrum of low-, moderate-, and high-risk patients with dyslipidemia in 8 countries in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Of the 9,518 patients studied overall, 45% were women, 64% had hypertension, 31% had diabetes, 14% were current smokers, 60% were high risk, and 79% were taking a statin. The median CRP level was 1.

Lipid goals among patients with diabetes or metabolic syndrome: Lipid Treatment Assessment Project (L-TAP) 2.

Objective: This analysis of the Lipid Treatment Assessment Project 2 population compared lipid goal attainment by diabetes and metabolic syndrome status.

Research Design And Methods: Dyslipidaemic patients aged ≥ 20 years on stable lipid lowering therapy had their lipid levels determined once during enrolment at investigation sites in nine countries between September 2006 and April 2007. Achievement of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol success, triglycerides < 150 mg/dl (1.

Inhibitory effect of PMC, a potent hydrophilic α-tocopherol derivative, on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation: the pivotal role of PKC-α translocation.

Content: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and restenosis, and thus the excessive proliferation of VSMCs contributes to neointimal thickening during atherosclerosis and restenosis. PMC (2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychromane) is the most potent hydrophilic derivative of the alpha-tocopherols; it acts as a potent anti-inflammatory and free-radical scavenger.

Objective: The present study was designed to examine the inhibitory mechanisms of PMC in VSMC proliferation.

Low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal attainment in dyslipidemic women: The Lipid Treatment Assessment Project (L-TAP) 2.

Background: Differences between women and men have been documented for both diagnostic testing and treatment in cardiology. This analysis evaluates whether low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) success rates according to current guidelines and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels differ by gender in the L-TAP 2 population.

Methods: Patients aged > or =20 years with dyslipidemia on stable lipid-lowering therapy were assessed in 9 countries between September 2006 and April 2007.

Lipid treatment assessment project 2: a multinational survey to evaluate the proportion of patients achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals.

Background: Information about physicians' adherence to cholesterol management guidelines remains scant. The present survey updates our knowledge of lipid management worldwide.

Methods And Results: Lipid levels were determined at enrollment in dyslipidemic adult patients on stable lipid-lowering therapy in 9 countries.

Echocardiography-guided balloon mitral valvotomy: transesophageal echocardiography versus intracardiac echocardiography.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Although balloon mitral valvotomy (BMV) can be guided by on-line transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or intracardiac echocardiography, few reports have been made comparing these methods. The study aim was to compare on-line TEE and on-line intracardiac echocardiography in the guidance of BMV.

Methods: Fifty-five consecutive patients with significant mitral stenosis (mitral area < or = 1.

Feasibility of simplifying balloon mitral valvuloplasty by obviating left-sided cardiac catheterization using on-line guidance with transesophageal echocardiography.

Study Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of simplifying balloon mitral valvuloplasty through the obviation of left-sided cardiac catheterization using on-line guidance with transesophageal echocardiography in patients with mitral stenosis.

Setting: A tertiary care medical center

Design: Patients who were eligible for balloon mitral valvuloplasty were enrolled into the study if they had no evidence of ischemic heart disease. Sixty-six patients (50 women and 16 men) met the criteria.

Intra-atrial thrombolytic therapy for dissolution of chronic left atrial thrombi in patients undergoing balloon mitral commissurotomy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the solubility of left atrial thrombi to thrombolytics after failure of long-term anticoagulant therapy in patient with mitral stenosis. One hundred and eighty-one consecutive patients with mitral valve area < or = 1.5 cm(2) and without severe mitral regurgitation were screened with echocardiography; 30 were found to have left atrial thrombi.

An unusual case of dual coronary artery fistulas to main pulmonary artery.

Coronary artery fistula is an anomaly in which a coronary artery directly connects to a cardiac chamber or great vessel. Its incidence is around 0.1 to 1% in the adult population.

Percutaneous transseptal mitral valvuloplasty in the presence of undegenerated septum primum.

A 37-year-old woman had progressive shortness of breath and mitral stenosis was diagnosed. Despite the unusual finding of undegenerated septum primum on echocardiography and angiography, percutaneous transseptal mitral commissurotomy was successfully performed in this patient with rheumatic mitral stenosis under the guidance of online transesophageal echocardiography.