Combating Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease.

The role of inflammation in promoting atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease is increasingly recognised, particularly after the publication of Anti-inflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease (CANTOS) and Colchicine Cardiovascular Outcomes (COLCOT) trials. It appears that specifically targeting the Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-interleukin 1/interleukin 18-interleukin 6 pathway appears to be most beneficial in cardiovascular risk reduction. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) is a downstream biomarker of inflammation that can be used to monitor treatment.

Rivaroxaban in the Prevention of Stroke and Systemic Embolism in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: Clinical Implications of the ROCKET AF Trial and Its Subanalyses.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an increasingly common cause of stroke and systemic embolism. While warfarin has been the mainstay of stroke prevention in patients with AF, newer novel oral anticoagulant medications are now available. Rivaroxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor with a rapid onset and offset after oral administration, offers potential advantages over warfarin, predominantly due to its predictable pharmacokinetics across wide patient populations.

Update on the management of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia, with a prevalence that increases markedly with increasing age. Presence of AF has implications for management of future stroke risk. If the patient's pulse is irregular, an electrocardiogram should be ordered.

The Long-Term Multicenter Observational Study of Dabigatran Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (RELY-ABLE) Study.

Background: During follow-up of between 1 and 3 years in the Randomized Evaluation of Long-term Anticoagulation Therapy (RE-LY) trial, 2 doses of dabigatran etexilate were shown to be effective and safe for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. There is a need for longer-term follow-up of patients on dabigatran and for further data comparing the 2 dabigatran doses.

Methods And Results: Patients randomly assigned to dabigatran in RE-LY were eligible for the Long-term Multicenter Extension of Dabigatran Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (RELY-ABLE) trial if they had not permanently discontinued study medication at the time of their final RE-LY study visit.

Treatment disparities and effect on late mortality in patients with diabetes presenting with acute myocardial infarction: observations from the ACACIA registry.

Objectives: To compare the use of evidence-based pharmacological and invasive treatments and 12-month mortality rates between patients with and without diabetes who present with acute myocardial infarction (MI), and to explore the relationship between these treatments and late clinical outcomes.

Design And Setting: Prospective, nationwide multicentre registry: the Acute Coronary Syndrome Prospective Audit (ACACIA).

Patients: Patients presenting to 24 metropolitan and 15 non-metropolitan hospitals with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and a final discharge diagnosis of acute MI between November 2005 and July 2007.

Invasive management and late clinical outcomes in contemporary Australian management of acute coronary syndromes: observations from the ACACIA registry.

Objective: To describe the impact of invasive management on 12-month survival among patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Australia.

Design And Setting: Prospective nationwide multicentre registry.

Patients: Patients presenting to 24 metropolitan and 15 non-metropolitan hospitals with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and high-risk and intermediate-risk non-ST-segment-elevation ACS (NSTEACS) between 1 November 2005 and 31 July 2007.