Aircraft noise exposure and risk for recurrent cardiovascular events after acute coronary syndrome: A prospective patient cohort study.

In several population based cohort studies associations between aircraft noise and various diagnoses of cardiovascular disease were observed. However, no study has yet addressed the risk of recurrences in relation to transportation noise in patients with acute coronary heart disease. We conducted a prospective patient cohort study of 737 individuals recruited from eleven cardiac centers in the Rhine-Main region in the vicinity of Frankfurt Airport.

Culprit lesion location and outcome in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating myocardial infarction: a substudy of the IABP-SHOCK II-trial.

Background: In myocardial infarction without cardiogenic shock (CS), the affected coronary vessel has significant influence on the final infarct size and patient prognosis. CS data on this relation are scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic relevance of the culprit lesion location in patients with CS complicating acute myocardial infarction.

ADP receptor antagonists in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: a post hoc IABP-SHOCK II trial subgroup analysis.

Aims: The aim of this post hoc subgroup analysis of the Intraaortic Balloon Pump in Cardiogenic Shock II trial was to compare the clinical outcome of patients treated with either clopidogrel or the newer, more potent P2Y12 receptor inhibitors prasugrel or ticagrelor.

Methods And Results: The primary endpoint was one-year mortality with respect to different P2Y12 receptor inhibitors. Secondary safety endpoints were GUSTO bleedings until hospital discharge.

Gender differences in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating myocardial infarction: a substudy of the IABP-SHOCK II-trial.

Background: Cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high mortality. Previous studies regarding gender-specific differences in CS are conflicting and there are insufficient data for the presence of gender-associated differences in the contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention era. Aim of this study was therefore to investigate gender-specific differences in a large cohort of AMI patients with CS undergoing contemporary treatment.

Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (IABP-SHOCK II): final 12 month results of a randomised, open-label trial.

Background: In current international guidelines the recommendation for intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use has been downgraded in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction on the basis of registry data. In the largest randomised trial (IABP-SHOCK II), IABP support did not reduce 30 day mortality compared with control. However, previous trials in cardiogenic shock showed a mortality benefit only at extended follow-up.

Intraaortic balloon support for myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock.

Background: In current international guidelines, intraaortic balloon counterpulsation is considered to be a class I treatment for cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction. However, evidence is based mainly on registry data, and there is a paucity of randomized clinical trials.

Methods: In this randomized, prospective, open-label, multicenter trial, we randomly assigned 600 patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction to intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP group, 301 patients) or no intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (control group, 299 patients).

Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: design and rationale of the Intraaortic Balloon Pump in Cardiogenic Shock II (IABP-SHOCK II) trial.

Background: In current guidelines, intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) is considered a class 1 indication in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction. However, evidence is mainly based on retrospective or prospective registries with a lack of randomized clinical trials. Therefore, IABP is currently only used in 20% to 40% of cardiogenic shock cases.

Incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias in pacemaker patients: results from the Balanced Evaluation of Atrial Tachyarrhythmias in Stimulated patients (BEATS) study.

Objectives: The prospective Balanced Evaluation of Atrial Tachyarrhythmias in Stimulated patients (BEATS) study compared atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) detection by means of serial ECG recordings versus device detection.

Background: The annual incidence of AT in patients with dual-chamber pacemakers may be significantly underestimated based on ECG and Holter recordings.

Methods: A DDD(R) device capable of AT-triggered dual-channel electrogram (EGM) storage was implanted in 254 patients (70 +/- 11 years, 159 men) with a class I pacing indication.

Reduction of ICAM-1 and LFA-1-positive leukocytes in the perivascular space of arteries under mycophenolate mofetil therapy reduces rat heart transplant vasculopathy.

Background: The interaction of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1)-positive host leukocytes with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on graft endothelium may play a key role in allograft recognition, triggering the development of transplant vasculopathy (TVP). We investigated the correlation between TVP and ICAM-1 expression and accumulation of LFA-1-positive leukocytes in the perivascular space (PVS) of arteries under different immunosuppressive drugs.

Methods: After cardiac transplantation (Lewis to Fisher) animals were randomized 4 groups: cyclosporine (CsA), 3 mg/kg/day (n=74); mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), 40 mg/kg/day (n=96); FK 506, 0.

Mycophenolate mofetil significantly reduces leukocyte graft infiltration after heterotopic cardiac transplantation in a rat model: comparative study with cyclosporine and FK 506.

Background: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of cyclosporine (CsA), FK 506 and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on graft-infiltrating leukocytes (CD4, CD8, CD11a, CD18) after cardiac transplantation in rats.

Methods: Three hundred forty animals were transplanted and randomly divided into 4 groups: CsA, 3 mg/kg/d (n = 74); MMF, 40 mg/kg/d (n = 96); FK 506, 0.3 mg/kg/d (n = 96); and a control group receiving no immunosuppressive therapy (n = 74).

Two good reasons for an angiotensin-II type 1 receptor blockade with losartan after cardiac transplantation: reduction of incidence and severity of transplant vasculopathy.

Despite considerable progress in immunosuppressive therapy, the incidence and severity of transplant vasculopathy (TVP) after cardiac transplantation have not declined. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contributing to TVP. We compared the effects of an angiotensin-II blocker, losartan (AT(1) blocker), and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, enalapril, on the incidence of diseased vessels and the severity of experimental TVP in the Lewis-to-Fischer rat heterotopic heart transplantation model.

Cyclosporine does not enhance the development of accelerated coronary artery disease: experimental study in a rat cardiac transplant model.

Background: Among other factors, cyclosporine (CsA) is linked with the development of accelerated coronary artery disease (ACAD) after transplantation. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of different CsA regimens on ACAD after rat heart transplantation.

Methods: After heterotopic cardiac transplantation (Lewis to Fisher), animals were treated with 3 or 12 mg/kg per day of CsA, administered subcutaneously.