Risk of acute myocardial infarction after the death of a significant person in one's life: the Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study.

Background: Acute psychological stress is associated with an abrupt increase in the risk of cardiovascular events. Intense grief in the days after the death of a significant person may trigger the onset of acute myocardial infarction (MI), but this relationship has not been systematically studied.

Methods And Results: We conducted a case-crossover analysis of 1985 participants from the multicenter Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study interviewed during index hospitalization for an acute MI between 1989 and 1994.

Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: a multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer.

Background: Intercessory prayer is widely believed to influence recovery from illness, but claims of benefits are not supported by well-controlled clinical trials. Prior studies have not addressed whether prayer itself or knowledge/certainty that prayer is being provided may influence outcome. We evaluated whether (1) receiving intercessory prayer or (2) being certain of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with uncomplicated recovery after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Bright and black blood imaging of the carotid bifurcation at 3.0T.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate our preliminary experience at 3.0 T with imaging of the carotid bifurcation in healthy and atherosclerotic subjects. Application at 3.

Vulnerable plaque detection by 3.0 tesla magnetic resonance imaging.

Rationale And Objectives: A clinical case report is presented on a 76-year-old man who volunteered for a 3.0 T magnetic resonance (MR) carotid protocol. The subject was referred for carotid endarterectomy and histology was performed on the ex vivo specimen and compared with the in vivo images.

Caffeinated coffee consumption and mortality after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Previous studies have generally suggested no effect of coffee consumption on the risk of acute myocardial infarction. The effect of coffee consumption on prognosis after acute myocardial infarction is uncertain.

Methods: In an inception cohort study, we observed 1935 patients who were hospitalized with a confirmed acute myocardial infarction between 1989 and 1994 at 45 community hospitals and tertiary care centers in the United States, as part of the Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study.

Educational attainment and myocardial infarct-related congestive heart failure (the Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study).

We assessed educational attainment and complications during hospitalization in 3,882 patients with acute myocardial infarction for the Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study. Educational attainment had a graded, inverse association with prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) during hospitalization, with the lowest prevalence among patients who attended college (odds ratio 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.

Tea consumption and mortality after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Some studies have suggested that tea consumption may be associated with lower mortality among individuals with cardiovascular disease, but the effects of tea consumption on mortality after acute myocardial infarction are unknown.

Methods And Results: As part of the Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study, we performed a prospective cohort study of 1900 patients hospitalized with a confirmed acute myocardial infarction between 1989 and 1994, with a median follow-up of 3.8 years.

Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP): study design and research methods.

Background: The effect of intercessory prayer (IP) on outcome in cardiac cases has been evaluated previously, but results are controversial. The goals of the Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) are to evaluate the effects of receipt of additional study IP and awareness of receipt of additional study IP on outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. STEP is not designed to determine whether God exists or whether God does or does not respond to IP.