Diseased vein grafts express elevated inflammatory cytokine levels compared with atherosclerotic coronary arteries.

Background: The pathologic modifications characterizing vein graft disease resemble those observed in native arteriosclerosis, but in accelerated form. Although both disorders are considered to be inflammatory diseases, it remains to be determined whether diseased vein grafts and atherosclerotic coronary arteries differentially express inflammatory mediators. Therefore, we examined whether differences in the expression of proinflammatory cytokines by these two distinct vascular pathologies favor the accelerated inflammation within diseased vein grafts.

Low-energy cardioversion versus medical treatment for the termination of atrial fibrillation after CABG.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent complication after cardiac surgery and can cause considerable morbidity. Low-energy cardioversion (LEC) using biatrial epicardial wires implanted during surgery has been shown to be effective and safe in conscious patients, but has not been directly compared with medical treatment so far. We therefore prospectively studied the efficacy of LEC in men 60 years of age and older.