Preclinical evaluation of a third-generation absorbable antibacterial envelope.

Background: The TYRX (Medtronic) absorbable antibacterial envelope has been shown to stabilize implantable cardiac devices and reduce infection. A third-generation envelope was developed to reduce surface roughness with a redesigned multifilament mesh and enhanced form factor but identical polymer coating and antibiotic concentrations as the currently available second-generation envelope.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare drug elution, bacterial challenge efficacy, stabilization, and absorption of second- vs third-generation envelopes.

Antibacterial Envelope Is Associated With Low Infection Rates After Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device Replacement: Results of the Citadel and Centurion Studies.

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether the nonabsorbable TYRX Antibacterial Envelope (TYRX) reduces major cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections 12 months after implant.

Background: TYRX is a monofilament polypropylene mesh impregnated with minocycline and rifampin specifically designed to hold a CIED in place and elute antimicrobials over time. There are limited data on its ability to reduce CIED infections.

Importance of cardiological evaluation for first seizures.

This paper reports two cases of long QT syndrome (LQTS) which presented with seizures as their initial feature. Case 1, AB was seen in emergency department with post-partum seizure, discharged and re-presented following cardiac arrest associated with LQTS. Case 2, CD presented initially with tonic-clonic seizure and because of experience with AB, CD was assessed for LQTS which was subsequently confirmed.

Programming implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in patients with primary prevention indication to prolong time to first shock: results from the PROVIDE study.

Background: Shock therapy delivery by implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) can be painful and may have adverse consequences. Reducing shock burden for patients with ICDs would be beneficial.

Methods: PROVIDE was a prospective, randomized study of primary prevention ICD patients.

Prevalence of positive syphilis serology and meningovascular neurosyphilis in patients admitted with stroke and TIA from a culturally diverse population (2005-09).

The study aims were to determine the prevalence of positive syphilis serology and meningovascular neurosyphilis (NS) in patients admitted with transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and stroke to a tertiary hospital serving a culturally diverse community. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using routinely collected administrative data and medical records to identify patients admitted with TIA, stroke and other conditions, with positive syphilis serology, between 2005 and 2009. Direct medical record review confirmed diagnoses of meningovascular NS.

Basilar artery occlusion in a 14-year old female successfully treated with acute intravascular intervention: case report and review of the literature.

Basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is a rare cause of paediatric stroke that may result in severe neurological disability including a 'locked-in' state. Acute interventional therapy for paediatric BAO is limited to a small number of published case reports. Of 13 previously published cases that have undergone acute intravascular therapy, six made a full neurological recovery, six had residual deficits ranging from mild dysarthria and ataxia to vegetative state and one patient died.

Validation of emergency and final diagnosis coding in transient ischemic attack: South Western Sydney transient ischemic attack study.

Background: It is important to establish the validity of diagnostic coding in administrative datasets used in stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) research. This study examines the accuracy of emergency department (ED) TIA diagnosis and final diagnostic coding after hospital admission.

Methods: Using administrative datasets, we identified all patients with an ED TIA diagnosis (435.

Decreasing presentations of seizures to emergency departments in a large Australian population.

This study was designed (1) to compare the prevalence of emergency department (ED) presentations in Western Zone Sydney South West Area Health Service (WZS) between 1998-2002 and 2003-2007 for epilepsy (including status epilepticus (SE) and convulsions), hospital admission rates, and proportion of first seizure presentations; and (2) to compare these data with those for New South Wales (NSW) and Australia-wide figures. Using health department data sets, we found 19,834 presentations to WZS EDs between 1998 and 2007 (24.85/10,000 population/year).

Outcomes of patients with transient ischaemic attack after hospital admission or discharge from the emergency department.

Objective: To compare outcomes at 28 days and 1 year between patients admitted to hospital and those discharged after presenting to the emergency department (ED) with transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

Design And Setting: All TIA presentations to EDs in a large metropolitan and rural region of Sydney and its surroundings, New South Wales, between 2001 and 2005 were extracted from state health department databases and followed up over 1 year. Admission and discharge data and subsequent TIA or stroke presentations were identified.

Impact of race and gender on cardiac device implantations.

Background: Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are established therapies for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Biventricular pacemakers (BiVP) can improve heart failure in selected patients as well.

Objective: This study sought to investigate the impact of gender and race on rates of implantation of pacemakers and ICDs in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Lipid-lowering drug use is associated with reduced prevalence of atrial fibrillation in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Background: Inflammation and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Lipid-lowering drugs, particularly statins and fibrates, possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of lipid-lowering drug use on AF prevalence in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

The relationship between stature and the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the influence of stature on atrial fibrillation (AF) in high-risk patients with reduced left ventricular (LV) systolic function.

Background: Left atrial (LA) enlargement is a potent risk factor for AF. Because LA size is strongly associated with stature, we hypothesized that height and body surface area (BSA) are risk factors for AF, independent of other known associations.

Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in elderly patients.

Coronary heart disease remains a leading cause of mortality in the United States, with 84 percent of persons 65 years or older dying from this disease. Secondary preventive measures, including lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy, are important for elderly patients because of the variable impacts on morbidity and mortality rates and quality of life. Participating in light to moderate activities significantly decreases mortality rates in elderly patients.

Atrial septal abnormalities and cryptogenic stroke: a paradoxical science.

Patent foramen ovale and/or atrial septal aneurysm occur in up to 20% of the general population, and have been linked to cryptogenic ischemic strokes in younger individuals. The pathophysiologic basis of this association remains unclear, with growing evidence suggesting a role for thrombosis and embolization. Aspirin and warfarin constitute the current mainstay of medical therapy, with a variety of secondary prevention studies assessing their impact on stroke recurrence.

Functional association of nox1 with p22phox in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The vascular NAD(P)H oxidases constitute important sources of ROS in the vessel wall and have been implicated in vascular disease. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from conduit arteries express two gp91phox homologs, Nox1 and Nox4, of which Nox1 is agonist-sensitive. Because p22phox has been shown to be functionally important in vascular cells stimulated with vasoactive hormones, the relationship of Nox1 and p22phox was investigated in VSMCs from rat and human aortas.

Left atrial structure and function after percutaneous left atrial appendage transcatheter occlusion (PLAATO): six-month echocardiographic follow-up.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of percutaneous left atrial appendage transcatheter occlusion (PLAATO) on the anatomic and hemodynamic properties of the mitral valve (MV) and left upper pulmonary vein (LUPV).

Background: PLAATO is a device designed to seal the neck of the left atrial (LA) appendage and reduce embolization in patients with atrial fibrillation intolerant of warfarin. The impact of deployment of this device on adjacent structures has not been reported.

NAD(P)H oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species as mediators of angiotensin II signaling.

Angiotensin II has been shown to participate in both physiological processes, such as sodium and water homeostasis and vascular contraction, and pathophysiological processes, including atherosclerosis and hypertension. The effects of this molecule on vascular tissue are mediated at least in part by the modification of the redox milieu of its target cells. Angiotensin II has been shown to activate the vascular NAD(P)H oxidase(s) resulting in the production of reactive oxygen species, namely superoxide and hydrogen peroxide.