Dosing of iodinated contrast volume: a new simple algorithm to stratify the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objectives And Background: Previous studies on contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) have identified contrast volume (CV) as a risk factor. The aim of our research was to define the safe dose of contrast media based on absolute CV, maximum allowable contrast dose (MACD) and estimated glomerular filtrate rate (eGFR).

Methods And Results: A total of 940 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were enrolled.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein predicts adverse outcomes after non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome regardless of GRACE risk score, but not after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Atherosclerosis is an active process and the inflammatory component appears to be particularly correlated with the development of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein that appears in the circulation in response to inflammatory cytokines. The present study investigated the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) on admission and follow-up prognosis after an ACS.

Trends in clinical profile and medical treatments of atrial fibrillation patients over the last 10 years.

Aim: We sought to define trends in AF prevalence and its medical management using recent data based on data from two cross-sectional studies performed in a European country in 1999 and 2009.

Methods: CARDIOTENS 1999 and CARDIOTENS 2009 were two observational, cross-sectional, multicenter studies. Patients were recruited in from primary care and cardiology outpatient clinics.

Pro B-type natriuretic peptide plasma value: a new criterion for the prediction of short- and long-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: To determine the prognostic value of pro B-type natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) to predict mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Logistic EuroSCORE (LES) overestimates observed mortality after TAVI. A new risk score specific to TAVI is needed to accurately assess mortality and outcome.

[Dyslipemia in diabetics treated with statins. Results of the DYSIS study in Spian].

Background And Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is characterized by carrying a high cardiovascular risk. This situation underscores the importance of intensively treating the risk factors present in diabetic patients, notably dyslipemia. The treatment with cholesterol-lowering drugs may be especially effective to reduce the cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients.

Walking beyond the GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) model in the death risk stratification during hospitalization in patients with acute coronary syndrome: what do the AR-G (ACTION [Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network] Registry and GWTG [Get With the Guidelines] Database), NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry), and EuroHeart Risk Scores Provide?

Objectives: This study sought to compare the in-hospital prognostic values of the original and updated GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) risk score (RS) and the AR-G (ACTION [Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network] Registry and the GWTG [Get With the Guidelines] Database) RS in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). To evaluate the utility of recalculating risk after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with newer RS models (NCDR [National Cardiovascular Data Registry] and EHS [EuroHeart Score] RS).

Background: Defined in 2003, GRACE is among the most popular systems of risk stratification in ACS.

Cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme in patients with chronic renal failure.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate cut-off values for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) diagnosis in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) for the cardiac biomarkers cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) as compared to the cut-off values proposed by the manufacturers and those frequently used in the laboratory.

Method: We performed a prospective study in patients with CRF with a glomerular filtration rate estimated by the MDRD-4 equation <60 mL/min and admitted with suspected acute coronary syndrome due to clinical history, physical examination, and electrocardiography. cTnI and CK-MB measurements were assessed upon hospitalisation and six months later using two different analytical methods (for cTnI: Access® and Vidas® analysers, and for CK-MB: Access® and Vitros® analysers).

Heart failure induces significant changes in nuclear pore complex of human cardiomyocytes.

Aims: The objectives of this study were to analyse the effect of heart failure (HF) on several proteins of nuclear pore complex (NPC) and their relationship with the human ventricular function.

Methods And Results: A total of 88 human heart samples from ischemic (ICM, n = 52) and dilated (DCM, n = 36) patients undergoing heart transplant and control donors (CNT, n = 9) were analyzed by Western blot. Subcellular distribution of nucleoporins was analysed by fluorescence and immunocytochemistry.

MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 Variability in Patients with Essential Hypertension: 1-Year Follow-Up Study.

The aim of this study is to analyze MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 variability, potent predictors of cardiovascular events, in stable hypertensive patients during a 12-month followup. 234 asymptomatic patients (age 60 ± 13, 136 male) out of 252 patients with essential hypertension were followed up. MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 were measured at baseline and after 12 months (stage I).

Baseline epicardial adipose tissue adiponectin levels predict cardiovascular outcomes: a long-term follow-up study.

Objective: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) produces a wide range of adipokines and has recently been linked to the physiopathology of cardiovascular (CV) and metabolic diseases. We aimed to study whether EAT and subcutaneous (SAT) adiponectin and leptin expression levels are associated with CV complications during long-term follow-up.

Methods And Results: EAT and SAT samples were obtained during surgery - mainly CABG (n=77) - from 137 patients (mean age 69.

Changes in lipid transport-involved proteins of epicardial adipose tissue associated with coronary artery disease.

Objective: Recent studies have focused on the potential role of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in the physiopathology of several metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to study whether there are differences in the proteome and the secretome between epicardial and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from patients with and without CAD.

Methods: EAT and SAT samples were collected from 64 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery either for coronary artery bypass grafting or valve surgery.

Cost-effectiveness of dabigatran for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Spain.

Introduction And Objectives: Assessment of the cost-effectiveness of dabigatran for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Spain, from the perspective of the National Health System.

Methods: Adaptation of a Markov chain model that simulates the natural history of the disease over the lifetime of a cohort of 10,000 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Model comparators were warfarin in a first scenario, and a real world prescribing pattern in a second scenario, in which 60% of the patients were treated with vitamin K antagonists, 30% with acetylsalicylic acid, and 10% received no treatment.

Predictive value of advanced glycation end products for the development of post-infarction heart failure: a preliminary report.

Background: Since post-infarction heart failure (HF) determines a great morbidity and mortality, and given the physiopathology implications of advanced glycation end products (AGE) in the genesis of myocardial dysfunction, it was intended to analyze the prognostic value of these molecules in order to predict post-infarction HF development.

Methods: A prospective clinical study in patients after first acute coronary syndrome was conducted. The follow-up period was consisted in 1 year.

Structural and functional inverse cardiac remodeling after cavotricuspid isthmus ablation in patients with typical atrial flutter.

Introduction And Objectives: The purpose of the present study is to determine the structural and functional cardiac changes that occur in patients at 1-year follow-up after ablation of typical atrial flutter.

Methods: We enrolled 95 consecutive patients referred for cavotricuspid isthmus ablation. Echocardiography was performed at ≤6h post-procedure and 1-year follow-up.

Attitude and efficacy of cardiologists with respect to smoking in patients after acute coronary syndromes.

Introduction And Objectives: Smoking is one of the most prevalent risk factors in acute coronary syndrome patients. The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes of cardiologists to the smoking habits of these patients

Methods: A prospective multicenter registry of acute coronary syndrome patients. The primary endpoint was defined as smoking abstinence and the secondary endpoint as the incidence of all-cause mortality or nonfatal myocardial infarction.

Increased expression of fatty-acid and calcium metabolism genes in failing human heart.

Background: Heart failure (HF) involves alterations in metabolism, but little is known about cardiomyopathy-(CM)-specific or diabetes-independent alterations in gene expression of proteins involved in fatty-acid (FA) uptake and oxidation or in calcium-(Ca(2+))-handling in the human heart.

Methods: RT-qPCR was used to quantify mRNA expression and immunoblotting to confirm protein expression in left-ventricular myocardium from patients with HF (n = 36) without diabetes mellitus of ischaemic (ICM, n = 16) or dilated (DCM, n = 20) cardiomyopathy aetiology, and non-diseased donors (CTL, n = 6).

Results: Significant increases in mRNA of genes regulating FA uptake (CD36) and intracellular transport (Heart-FA-Binding Protein (HFABP)) were observed in HF patients vs CTL.

Heart rate at baseline influences the effect of ivabradine on cardiovascular outcomes in chronic heart failure: analysis from the SHIFT study.

Background: We analysed the effect of ivabradine on outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients on recommended background therapies with heart rates ≥75 bpm and <75 bpm in the SHIFT trial. A cut-off value of ≥75 bpm was chosen by the EMEA for approval for the use of ivabradine in chronic heart failure.

Methods: The SHIFT population was divided by baseline heart rate ≥75 or <75 bpm.