Comparison of continuous 24-hour and 14-day ECG monitoring for the detection of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with ischemic stroke or syncope.

Background: Previous studies show that using 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) or 24-h ECG monitor for the detection of cardiac arrhythmia events in patients with stroke or syncope is ineffective.

Hypothesis: The 14-day continuous ECG patch has higher detection rates of arrhythmias compared with conventional 24-h ECG monitoring in patients with ischemic stroke or syncope.

Methods: This cross-sectional study of patients with newly diagnosed ischemic stroke or syncope received a 24-h ECG monitoring and 14-day continuous cardiac monitoring patch and the arrhythmia events were measured.

Usefulness of serial post-systolic shortening by speckle tracking echocardiography to predict major adverse cardiovascular events and segmental function improvement after acute myocardial infarction.

Purpose: The aim is to determine whether serial post-systolic shortening (PSS) using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) could predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), especially symptom-driven infarct-related artery (IRA) revascularization and improvement in segmental function in post-myocardial infarction patients.

Methods/results: Ninety-four patients (average age 61.1 ± 12.

Protein kinases are involved in the cardioprotective effects activated by platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor tirofiban at reperfusion in rats in vivo.

The thrombolytic effect of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors) in myocardial infarction has been well established. Nevertheless, data on the mechanism of the cardioprotective effect of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in ischemic-reperfusion injury (IR) are lacking. Sprague-Dawley rats received 120 min of coronary ischemia and 180 min of reperfusion.

Albuminuria and neck circumference are determinate factors of successful accurate estimation of glomerular filtration rate in high cardiovascular risk patients.

Background: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is used for diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The eGFR models based on serum creatinine or cystatin C are used more in clinical practice. Albuminuria and neck circumference are associated with CKD and may have correlations with eGFR.

Heart Failure and Mortality of Adult Survivors from Acute Myocarditis Requiring Intensive Care Treatment - A Nationwide Cohort Study.

The correlation between severity and long-term outcomes of pediatric myocarditis have been reported, however this correlation in adults has rarely been studied. This nationwide population-based cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Patients aged < 75 and > 18 years admitted to an intensive care unit due to acute myocarditis were enrolled and divided into three groups according to mechanical circulatory support (MCS) after excluding major comorbidities.

Effects of statin therapy on cerebrovascular and renal outcomes in patients with predialysis advanced chronic kidney disease and dyslipidemia.

Background: Treatment with statin may be beneficial for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the debate over the clinical importance of statin in patients with predialysis advanced CKD remains unresolved.

Objectives: The objective of the article was to evaluate the effect of statin on mortality, cerebrovascular, and renal outcomes in patients with predialysis advanced CKD and dyslipidemia.

Predictors of Left Ventricle Remodeling: Combined Plasma B-type Natriuretic Peptide Decreasing Ratio and Peak Creatine Kinase-MB.

Previous studies reported that patients who had an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have found that measuring B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) during the subacute phase of left ventricular (LV) remodeling can predict the possible course of LV remodeling. This study assessed the use of serial BNP serum levels combined with early creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) to predict the development of significant LV remodeling in AMI patients. Nighty-seven patients with new onset AMI were assessed using serial echocardiographic studies and serial measurements of BNP levels, both performed on day-2 (BNP1), day-7 (BNP2), day-90 (BNP3), and day-180 (BNP4) after admission.

Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Predict Left Ventricular Remodeling after Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Objectives: Left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction increases cardiovascular events and mortality. But few study was done in patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF > 40%). We investigate whether the strain and strain rate by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography could predict left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction in this cohort.

Hemopericardium caused by a mobile retained epicardial pacing wire after ventricular septal defect repair: A case report.

Background: Epicardial pacing wires (EPWs) are commonly employed for diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmia in the acute phase after cardiac surgery. Although rare, retained EPWs may cause mild-to-catastrophic complications. The present case demonstrates hemopericardium caused by a mobile retained EPW.

Impact of Apolipoprotein B on Hepatosteatosis in a Population Infected with Hepatitis C Virus: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an established risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, antiviral treatment resistance, and progression of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to fibrosis. Apolipoprotein-B 100 (ApoB-100) is a dyslipidemia marker and steatosis predictor. We assess the correlation between ApoB-100 and hepatosteatosis.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Short-Term Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Related Infection: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increased the incident cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection, but risk factors of CIED infection in CKD patients remain unclear.Patients who received new CIED implantation between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2011 were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database and were divided into 3 groups: patients with normal renal function, CKD patients without dialysis, and CKD patient with dialysis. Two outcomes, CIED infection during index hospitalization and within 1 year after discharge, were evaluated.

Association of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity with atherosclerosis and presence of coronary artery disease in older patients.

Objective: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a simple and reproducible measure of arterial stiffness and is extensively used to assess risk of cardiovascular disease in Asia. We examined whether baPWV was associated with coronary atherosclerosis and presence and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) in older patients with chest pain.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 370 consecutive patients >65 years old who underwent baPWV measurement and elective coronary angiogram for suspected CAD at a single cardiovascular center, between June 2013 and July 2014.

Neck Circumference as a Predictive Indicator of CKD for High Cardiovascular Risk Patients.

Background: Neck circumference (NC) is an anthropometric measure of obesity for upper subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution which is associated with cardiometabolic risk. This study investigated whether NC is associated with indicators of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for high cardiometabolic risk patients.

Methods: A total of 177 consecutive patients who underwent the outpatient departments of cardiology were prospectively enrolled in the study.

Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitor Tirofiban Ameliorates Cardiac Reperfusion Injury.

There are many published articles on the effects of the antithrombolytic function of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors) in myocardial infarction. However, few studies have explored the effects and optimal concentration of tirofibans in diminishing the extent of myocardial reperfusion injury (RI).Rats received 120 minutes of coronary ligation and 180 minutes of reperfusion.

Impact of gout on left atrial function: a prospective speckle-tracking echocardiographic study.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) function in patients with gout. A total of 173 patients underwent a comprehensive Doppler-echocardiography examination. Participants were divided into four groups-Stage 0: control (n = 35), Stage I: asymptomatic hyperuricemia (n = 30), Stage II: gouty arthritis without tophi (n = 58), and Stage III: tophaceous gout (n = 50).

Relationship between resistant hypertension and arterial stiffness assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in the older patient.

Background: Resistant hypertension (RH) is a common clinical condition associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in older patients. Several factors and conditions interfering with blood pressure (BP) control, such as excess sodium intake, obesity, diabetes, older age, kidney disease, and certain identifiable causes of hypertension are common in patients resistant to antihypertensive treatment. Arterial stiffness, measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), is increasingly recognized as an important prognostic index and potential therapeutic target in hypertensive patients.

Relation of arterial stiffness assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity to complexity of coronary artery disease.

Background: The progression of atherosclerosis leads to increased arterial stiffness. The present study used brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) to evaluate the connection between arterial stiffness in patients with chest pain and the presence and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: On a retrospective basis, we analyzed the data of 703 consecutive patients who had undergone baPWV and an elective coronary angiogram for suspected CAD, between June 2010 and July 2012, at a single cardiovascular center.

Microvascular permeability changes might explain cardiac tamponade after alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Various sequelae of alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy have been reported. Of note, some cases of cardiac tamponade after alcohol septal ablation cannot be well explained. We describe the case of a 78-year-old woman with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in whom cardiac tamponade developed one hour after alcohol septal ablation, probably unrelated to mechanical trauma.

The role of postintervention pullback pressure gradient in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for central vein stenosis in dialysis patients.

Purpose: The severity of residual stenosis (RS) sometimes cannot be accurately measured by angiography during central vein intervention. This study evaluated the role of pullback pressure measurement during central vein stenosis (CVS) intervention.

Methods: A retrospective review enrolled 94 consecutive dialysis patients who underwent CVS interventions but not stenting procedures.

Using intermittent pneumatic compression therapy to improve quality of life for symptomatic patients with infrapopliteal diffuse peripheral obstructive disease.

Background: Although the acute effect of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) therapy had been documented for patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD), its efficacy in improving quality of life (QOL), especially for those with infrapopliteal diffuse lesions, remains unclear.

Methods And Results: Thirty-one patients with infrapopliteal diffuse or multiple segmental lesions were enrolled in the study. Based on receipt of IPC therapy (3 h daily for 3 months), patients were allocated to a study (n=23) or control (n=8) group.

Arterial stiffness is the independent factor of left ventricular hypertrophy determined by electrocardiogram.

Introduction: Arterial stiffness may contribute to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). This study was conducted to evaluate the independent factor of LVH and the quantification of LVH by electrocardiogram (ECG) to predict the degree of aortic stiffness using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in subjects with hypertension.

Materials And Methods: A total of 984 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as having essential hypertension were entered into the study.

Prognostic value of QT dispersion change following primary percutaneous coronary intervention in acute ST elevation myocardial infarction.

This study analyzed the corrected QT dispersion (cQTd) before and at 24 hours after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 81 patients with single coronary artery disease and acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. Major cardiovascular events (MACE) at 1 year were defined as death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, life-threatening arrhythmias, and heart failure hospitalization. The cQTd before primary PCI was significantly longer in patients without MACE than in patients with MACE (73.

Quantification of aortic stiffness to predict the degree of left ventricular diastolic function.

Introduction: The association between the arterial stiffness and the severity of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in hypertension has not been fully evaluated. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of aortic stiffness by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) to parameters reflecting the atherosclerosis and the severity of LV diastolic function in patients with hypertension.

Methods: LV ejection fraction, the ratio of peak velocity of early rapid filling and peak velocity of atrial filling (E/A ratio) and LV mass index were determined with echocardiography in 800 patients with hypertension.