Relationship of aortic valve calcification with coronary artery calcium severity: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Background: Aortic valve calcification (AVC) and atherosclerosis share causative and pathologic features.

Objective: We evaluated the relationship between AVC and coronary artery calcium (CAC) severity in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Methods: Men and women aged 45-84 years (n=6809; mean age, 62 years) were studied.

Training in cardiovascular computed tomography: The Fellows-In-Training perspective.

Background: Cardiovascular computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is an emerging diagnostic technique in the evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease. The recent CoCATS guidelines recommend that all cardiovascular fellows be exposed to CCTA in their training programs; however, not all programs have the ability to provide such training.

Objective: This study aims to describe the present opinions of Fellows-in-Training (FIT) toward CCTA training.

Novel functionalized mesopore of SBA-15 as prospective sorbent for praseodymium and lutetium.

In the present work, results of γ-irradiation on normal and functionalized SBA-15 by aurintricarboxylic acid have been reported. Characterization of normal and functionalized SBA-15 particles before and after γ-irradiation was carried out using Fourier-transform infrared technique. Aurintricarboxylic acid ligand connected to SBA-15 was also analyzed using UV/Vis spectrophotometer.

The prevalence and outcome of excess body weight among Middle Eastern patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome.

We evaluated the effect of body weight on the outcome of Middle Eastern patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Analysis of the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE) survey that included 7843 consecutive patients hospitalized with ACS was made. Patients were categorized as normal weight, overweight, or obese based on their body mass index (BMI).

Incremental prognostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging in patients referred to stress single-photon emission computed tomography with renal dysfunction.

Background: Coronary artery disease is the main cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with impaired renal function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic implications of single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI) in patients with impaired renal function.

Methods And Results: We included 7348 consecutive patients (mean age, 64+/-13 years; 51% men) referred for SPECT-MPI between March 2002 and October 2006.

Clinical application of cardiac CMR.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is an important clinical tool that aids in the diagnosis and management of patients with cardiomyopathy. With its ability to assess morphologic and physiologic myocardial characteristics in the same imaging session, CMR can effectively rule out less common causes of cardiomyopathy, including cardiac hemochromatosis, amyloidosis, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular tachycardia. The combination of cine function, myocardial perfusion at rest and under stress, and late gadolinium enhancement provides a strong assessment that can establish the cause of the cardiomyopathy as well as guide therapy in cases of ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Heart failure in patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes: observations from the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE).

Aims: We describe the prevalence and prognostic significance of heart failure (HF) complicating acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in patients enrolled in the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE).

Methods And Results: Gulf RACE is a prospective, multi-national study of all patients hospitalized with ACS in 65 centres in six Arab countries. Data were analysed based on HF on presentation (Killip class II/III) or during hospital stay.

Investigation of liquid wax components of Egyptian jojoba seeds.

Egyptian jojoba seeds newly cultivated in Ismailia desert in Egypt promoted us to determine its lipid components. Fatty alcohols, fatty acids, wax esters and sterols patterns were determined by capillary GLC whereas, tocopherols profile, isopropenoid alcohols and sterylglycosides were determined by HPLC. The Egyptian seeds are rich in wax esters (55 %) with fatty alcohols C20:1 and C22:1 as major components and amounted to 43.

Low admission LDL-cholesterol is associated with increased 3-year all-cause mortality in patients with non ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: The relationship between admission low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and long-term outcomes has not been established in patients with acute coronary syndrome. We tested the hypothesis that patients who develop non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) despite low LDL have a worse cardiovascular outcome in the long term.

Methods: Patients admitted with NSTEMI between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000 and with fasting lipid profiles measured within 24 hours of admission were selected for analysis.

Ionic liquids for simultaneous preconcentration of some lanthanoids using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction technique in uranium dioxide powder.

Ionic liquids in a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction technique were used for determination of lanthanoids such as samarium, europium, gadolinium, and dysprosium in uranium dioxide powder. In this process, an appropriate mixture of extraction solvent and disperser is rapidly injected into an aqueous sample containing samarium, europium, gadolinium, and dysprosium ions complexes with 1-hydroxy-2, 5-pyrrolidinedione, and consequently a cloudy solution is formed. It consists of fine droplets of extraction solventwhich are dispersed entirely into the aqueous phase.

Didactics and training in cardiovascular computed tomography angiography.

As the role of cardiovascular computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is further expanded through research, the use of this technology will expand as a result of demand both from medical professionals and the public. To ensure a standardized quality of interpretation of these scans in the face of an increased demand for physicians qualified to interpret these studies, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, along with several other professional societies, has proposed a didactic curriculum for the study of CCTA. This review highlights the currently proposed didactic curriculum for the study of CCTA, examines current trends in training for both medical trainees and physicians in practice, and proposes future directions for the study of CCTA.

Inadvertent anastomosis of saphenous vein graft to a cardiac vein detected with coronary computed tomographic angiography.

A 34-year-old man with a prior history of Hodgkin's disease and coronary artery bypass surgery for radiation-induced left main disease presented with persistent chest pain. Cardiac catheterization showed near simultaneous filling of the venous system during arterial injection and could not precisely delineate the insertion point of the vein graft anastamosis to the diagonal branch, and the patient was referred for coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). CTA demonstrated that the anastamosis of the graft was with a cardiac vein.

Long term favorable prognostic value of negative treadmill echocardiogram in the setting of abnormal treadmill electrocardiogram: a 95 month median duration follow-up study.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess if negative treadmill echocardiographic (NTME) results retained their favorable prognosis over a long period of follow-up (median, 95 months) in the setting of ischemic stress electrocardiographic (ISECG) results.

Methods: Consecutive patients with NTME results were analyzed as 2 groups (those with ISECG results and those with normal stress electrocardiographic results). Patients were followed up for a median duration of 95 months to identify major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization.

Safety and tolerability of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor versus the combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The addition of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) to an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) in patients with heart failure remains controversial. A recent meta-analysis showed that the combination therapy reduces hospitalization without improved survival. Whether excess risk is associated with this strategy has not been fully explored.

The relationship between spontaneous echocontrast, transesophageal echocardiographic parameters, and blood hemoglobin levels.

Background: Spontaneous echocontrast (SEC) or "smoke" is an intracavitary echocardiographic finding seen in situations of stasis or low blood flow. Increased hematocrit and fibrinogen levels have been associated with SEC in prior studies. Whether low hemoglobin (Hb) levels are an independent predictor of lower prevalence of SEC is a question that remains unanswered.

Positive troponin in diabetic ketoacidosis without evident acute coronary syndrome predicts adverse cardiac events.

Background: Elevated troponin I has been associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients without acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the prognostic significance of troponin elevation in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) without evident ACS has not been studied.

Methods: Retrospective study of all patients admitted to a U.

Active Lipid Management In Coronary Artery Disease (ALMICAD) study.

Purpose: Many providers have implemented specialized lipid clinics to more effectively identify, monitor, and treat hyperlipidemia in patients with coronary artery disease. The effectiveness of such a strategy is not known. We sought to investigate whether a specialized clinic achieves better lipid results and clinical outcomes than standard care.

Adult bone marrow-derived cells for cardiac repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The results from small clinical studies suggest that therapy with adult bone marrow (BM)-derived cells (BMCs) reduces infarct size and improves left ventricular function and perfusion. However, the effects of BMC transplantation in patients with ischemic heart disease remains unclear.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (through July 2006) for randomized controlled trials and cohort studies of BMC transplantation to treat ischemic heart disease.

The efficacy and safety of combination glycoprotein IIbIIIa inhibitors and reduced-dose thrombolytic therapy-facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Objective: We reviewed the literature and performed a meta-analysis comparing the safety and efficacy of adjunctive use of reduced-dose thrombolytics and glycoprotein (Gp) IIbIIIa inhibitors to the sole use of Gp IIbIIIa inhibitors before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients presenting with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Background: Early reperfusion in STEMI is associated with improved outcomes. The use of reduced-dose thrombolytic and Gp IIbIIIa inhibitors combination before PCI in the setting of acute STEMI remains controversial.

Predictors and outcomes associated with gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Potent antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents along with early revascularization are increasingly used in patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). An important complication associated with these therapies is gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB); yet, the predictors, optimal management, and outcomes associated with GIB in ACS patients are poorly studied.

Methods: We investigated the incidence, predictors, pathological findings, and clinical outcomes associated with GIB in patients with ACS hospitalized at a United States tertiary center between 1996 and 2001.

Delay in invasive risk stratification of women with acute coronary syndrome is associated with worse outcomes.

Background: Invasive risk stratification in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) has been shown to improve outcomes. There is paucity of data on women undergoing invasive risk stratification. We investigated whether the time to coronary angiography affects survival of female patients admitted with ACS.