A Non-classical Presentation of Tangier Disease with Three ABCA1 Mutations.

Tangier disease is a very rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterized by markedly reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, characteristic large, yellow-orange tonsils, and enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes. It is caused by mutations in the ABCA1 gene. There is no specific treatment, and medications traditionally used to increase HDL are ineffective.

Intensive multifactorial intervention for stable coronary artery disease: optimal medical therapy in the COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) trial.

Objectives: This paper describes the medical therapy used in the COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) trial and its effect on risk factors.

Background: Most cardiovascular clinical trials test a single intervention. The COURAGE trial tested multiple lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions (optimal medical therapy) with or without percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable coronary disease.

Comparison of drug-eluting and bare-metal stents for stable coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The current study was designed to determine whether drug-eluting stents (DES) are superior to bare-metal stents (BMS) in patients with stable angina.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention has been shown to decrease symptoms of angina; its use for stable angina has not been shown to reduce myocardial infarction or mortality.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of prospective data comparing the use of BMS versus DES in patients who met criteria used by the COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) study investigators.

Electrocardiographic intervals in the healthy geriatric population--what are the "normals"?

The authors compared the average electrocardiographic (ECG) intervals in a population of patients 80 years and older with published "normal" values. The medical records of patients who presented to the Mayo Clinic for health maintenance examinations and who had a routine ECG performed (N=702) were selected. Age; sex; rhythm; PR, QRS, and QTc intervals; incidence of cardiac disease; and presence of interval-prolonging medication were recorded.