Atrial fibrillation post CABG and the risk of arrhythmia recurrence: the AFRODITE study.

Background: New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) occurs with an incidence of 20-40%. The clinical relevance of POAF remains a concern, and the need for further studies regarding the clinical management of POAF is necessary.

Aim: The AFRODITE study, a prospective multicenter cohort study, had as its primary endpoint the evaluation of AF recurrence in patients post CABG over a one-year period.

Plasma Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in the Differential Diagnosis of Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background And Purpose: Plasma GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) has recently emerged as a potential biomarker for the differentiation of acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) from acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We prospectively assessed the diagnostic accuracy of GFAP in the differential diagnosis of ICH.

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department within 6 hours from symptom onset were evaluated.

Prognostic significance of serum albumin level changes in acute ischemic stroke: the role of biological and analytical variation.

Background: Animal studies have shown a neuroprotective effect of human serum albumin (sAlb) in ischemic stroke (IS). Previous studies have shown an association of high sAlb with better outcome. Our aim is to investigate the kinetics of sAlb in acute IS and its possible correlation with outcome taking into account the analytical and biological variation of sAlb measurement.

Treating volume overload in acutely decompensated heart failure: established and novel therapeutic approaches.

Background: Most patients hospitalized for acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) present with symptoms and signs of volume overload, which is also associated with substantially high rates of death and rehospitalization in ADHF.

Objective: To review the recent experimental and clinical evidence on existing therapeutic algorithms and investigational drugs used for the treatment of volume overload in ADHF patients.

Methods: A systematic search of peer-reviewed publications was performed on Medline and EMBASE from January 1990 to March 2012.

Effect of green tea on postprandial antioxidant capacity, serum lipids, C-reactive protein and glucose levels in patients with coronary artery disease.

Purpose: Cardiovascular risk factors have been identified in the postprandial state, particularly in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Tea consumption has been linked to cardiovascular risk reduction, but the beneficial effect of tea has not been investigated under postprandial conditions. The objective was to examine the effect of green tea on postprandial levels of plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), serum lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP) and glucose in patients with CAD.

Intraabdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor: Report of a case and literature review.

Introduction: Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis that predominantly affects young males. Its etiopathogenesis is still unknown and diagnosis can be achieved only by immunohistochemistry and cytogenetic studies. Due to our limited knowledge of the pathologic and clinical nature of this disease, there is no clear consensus regarding the optimal therapeutic procedures for treating this neoplasm.

Therapeutic options for the management of the cardiorenal syndrome.

Patients with heart failure often present with impaired renal function, which is a predictor of poor outcome. The cardiorenal syndrome is the worsening of renal function, which is accelerated by worsening of heart failure or acute decompensated heart failure. Although it is a frequent clinical entity due to the improved survival of heart failure patients, still its pathophysiology is not well understood, and thus its therapeutic approach remains controversial and sometimes ineffective.

Impact of 6 weeks of treatment with low-dose metformin and atorvastatin on glucose-induced changes of endothelial function in adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus: A single-blind study.

Background: Statin treatment has been reported to improve survival in patients with atherosclerosis, partly by improving vascular endothelial function. Elevation of blood glucose concentrations impairs endothelial function and promotes atherogenesis, but the effect of statins on glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction is unknown. Endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) measured by gauge-strain plethysmography in the forearm is considered to be a reliable marker of endothelial function in forearm resistance vessels.

Combined effects of atorvastatin and metformin on glucose-induced variations of inflammatory process in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Statin treatment improves survival in patients with atherosclerosis, but their effect on the glucose-induced variations of inflammatory markers, is unknown. We examined the effect of combined therapy with atorvastatin and metformin on glucose-induced variations of inflammatory molecules in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM).

Methods: Thirty five subjects with newly diagnosed DM were randomized to receive metformin 850 mg/d (M, n=17) or metformin 850 mg/d+atorvastatin 10mg (n=18).

Common community infections and the risk for coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction: evidence for chronic over-expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha and vascular cells adhesion molecule-1.

Background: Although several common community infections have been associated with the risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), their role in the development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is still unclear. We examined the prevalence of IgG and IgM (or IgA) antibodies against common infections such as HSV, Hepatitis A (HAV), Helicobacter pylori (HP), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP), in CAD and AMI patients, and their relationship with pro-atherogenic inflammatory molecules.

Methods: A total number of 337 subjects were included in this study: 150 patients with angiographically documented stable CAD, 138 patients admitted with AMI and 49 healthy individuals.