The impact of treatment with omeprazole on the effectiveness of clopidogrel drug therapy during the first year after successful coronary stenting.

Background: Because clopidogrel is converted to its active metabolite by P450 isoenzymes, which are also involved in the metabolism of omeprazole, there is concern regarding whether the action of clopidogrel would be reduced in patients also taking omeprazole.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of omeprazole administration on the effectiveness of clopidogrel drug therapy during the first year following successful coronary stenting (CS).

Methods: A total of 588 consecutive patients who underwent successful CS for stable or unstable coronary artery disease were studied.

The impact of right ventricular involvement on the postdischarge long-term mortality in patients with acute inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term impact of right ventricular myocardial involvement (RVI) after acute inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: A total of 1208 consecutive patients, who survived to discharge after hospitalization for acute inferior STEMI, were studied. Patients were divided into those with (n = 459) or without (n = 749) of RVI involvement, defined as ST-segment elevation > or =1 mm in V4R.

The impact of aspirin resistance on the long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Aspirin resistance has been associated with an adverse long-term outcome in patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, but more studies are needed.

Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of aspirin resistance, assessed by the Platelet Function Analyzer-100 (PFA-100) (Dade Behring Inc., Deerfield, Ill.

Multimarker strategy for the prediction of 31 days cardiac death in patients with acutely decompensated chronic heart failure.

Background: To investigate the combined prognostic value of admission serum levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), in patients hospitalized because of acutely decompensated severe (New York Heart Association class III/IV) low-output chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: A total of 577 consecutive patients recruited in the 5 participating centers, were studied. Cardiac mortality by 31 days was the prespecified primary study end point.

Comparison of simvastatin and nicotinic acid administration in alcohol-treated Wistar rats.

Introduction: Previous studies of ours have shown that simvastatin (S) and nicotinic acid (NA) lower the alcohol (Alc)-induced increase of triglycerides. The aim of this study was to evaluate which drug is more effective and safe in decreasing Alc-induced hypertriglyceridaemia in Wistar rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomised into 6 groups, which were fed with: (1) olive oil (Oil group, n=10); (2) Oil + Alc, (Alc group, n=10); (3) S solution in Oil (65 microg/100g body weight), (S group, n=10); (4) NA solution in Oil (8.

The impact of oral antiplatelet responsiveness on the long-term prognosis after coronary stenting.

Background: Decreased responsiveness to oral antiplatelet drug therapy has been associated with an adverse outcome after coronary stenting (CS), but more studies are needed. The purpose of the present study was to prospectively evaluate this issue.

Methods: A total of 612 consecutive patients with stable or unstable coronary artery disease who underwent CS after at least 12 hours of aspirin and clopidogrel loading were studied.

The impact of circulating total homocysteine levels on long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Background: To evaluate the possible independent impact of circulating total homocysteine (tHcy) levels on long-term cardiovascular mortality, in patients with either ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), or non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS).

Methods: A total of 458 STEMI and 476 NSTE-ACS patients who presented consecutively, within the first 12 and 24 h of index pain respectively were studied. Each cohort was divided according to tertiles of circulating tHcy levels upon presentation.

The impact of hs C-reactive protein and other inflammatory biomarkers on long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

We evaluated whether high circulating levels of serum amyloid A (SAA), fibrinogen, interleukin-6 (IL-6) or leukocytes count (LC), can provide any additional predictive value over that provided by hs C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) for the incidence of 5-year cardiovascular mortality, in 458 and 476 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS), respectively. By 5 years the incidence of cardiovascular mortality was 37.3% and 35.

Continuous 12-lead electrocardiographic ST monitoring and long-term prognosis after successful coronary stenting.

Background: The possible long-term prognostic value of transient ST ischemic episodes detected by continuous multilead electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring after successful coronary stenting (CS) has not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods: A total of 739 consecutive patients, who underwent a 24-hour, continuous 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) ST monitoring in the first day after successful CS, were studied. An ST ischemic episode was defined as a transient ST shift (depression or elevation) in any lead of > or = 0.

Continuous 12-lead electrocardiographic ST monitoring adds prognostic information to the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction risk score in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Continuous 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) ST monitoring and the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction Risk Score (TIMI-RS), both have been shown to be useful for early risk stratification in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTACS).

Hypothesis: Transient ST ischemic events, detected by continuous 12-lead ECG ST monitoring, early in the course of NSTACS, may add prognostic information to the TIMI-RS.

Methods: In all, 567 consecutive patients with a NSTACS underwent 24-h continuous 12-lead ECG ST monitoring.

Type 2 diabetes and intravenous thrombolysis outcome in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: There are conflicting results regarding the impact of type 2 diabetes on intravenous thrombolysis effectiveness during ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The present study, using a continuous 12-lead electrocardiogram, examined the possible association of type 2 diabetes with both acute intravenous thrombolysis effectiveness and long-term prognosis in this setting.

Research Design And Methods: The study included 726 consecutive subjects (214 type 2 diabetic subjects) with STEMI who received intravenous thrombolysis in the first 6 h from index pain and were followed up for 3.

The effect of alcohol and gemfibrozil co-administration in Wistar rats.

Introduction: The ingestion of alcohol (Alc) as well as gemfibrozil (Gem), a fibrate drug used to treat hypertriglyceridaemia, may occur on a long-term basis in humans. Since both Alc and Gem can disturb liver function, we assessed the effects of administering Alc together with Gem in Wistar rats.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomized and divided into 4 groups of 10 each.

The effect of co-administration of simvastatin and alcohol in rats.

Introduction: The effect of chronic co-administration of alcohol (Alc) and lipid-lowering drugs on hepatic function has not been extensively evaluated. We studied the effects of administering Alc together with a 3-hydroxy-3 methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor [simvastatin (S)].

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats (8 weeks old) were randomized and divided into 4 groups of 10 each.

Degree of activity at the onset of myocardial infarction and thrombolysis outcome.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between the degree of physical activity at the onset of myocardial infarction and thrombolysis outcome.

Methods: A total of 351 consecutive patients, who underwent thrombolysis due to ST elevation acute myocardial infarction, were prospectively studied. Patients were classified into three groups according to a generally accepted scale: group I patients had experienced symptoms during exertion, group II when sitting and group III during sleep or when reclining.

Postprandial lipemia in hypertension.

Objective: Many studies have shown that patients with coronary artery disease have an exaggerated rise and a delayed fall of plasma triglyceride (TG) concentration postprandially. We examined whether patients with essential hypertension have the same response to a fatty meal.

Methods: A fatty meal (350g per 2 m(2) body surface with 83.