Congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation: rhythm versus rate control.

Background: The incidence both of heart failure and atrial fibrillation is steadily increasing in the United States' population, and these conditions frequently coexist in the same patient. It is likely that the onset of one of these disorders leads to the onset and propagation of the other through multiple mechanisms. Several studies have investigated the prognosis of patients with both conditions, but a definitive conclusion regarding outcomes such as mortality and quality of life has yet to be determined.

Multiple plaque morphologies in a single coronary artery: insights from volumetric intravascular ultrasound.

Intravascular ultrasound provides detailed information on vessel wall and plaque morphology. This report illustrates the use of three-dimensional volumetric IVUS reconstruction images to characterize different patterns of plaque morphology, including vulnerable and ruptured plaques, within a single coronary artery in a patient with unstable angina.