Optimal Medical Therapy for Stable Ischemic Heart Disease: Focus on Anti-anginal Therapy.

Chronic coronary disease (CCD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The most common symptom of CCD is exertional angina pectoris, a discomfort in the chest that commonly occurs during activities of daily life. Patients are dismayed by recurring episodes of angina and seek medical help in preventing or minimizing episodes.

Thrombi straddling patent foramen ovale: A case series with various management strategies.

This case series explores four cases of thrombi straddling patent foramen ovale (TSFO), an exceedingly rare event. The cases are compared regarding their presentations, evaluations, and management strategies including the first documented uses of percutaneous thromboembolectomy for the removal of a TSFO.

A Rare Cause of Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Ventricular Failure: Left Atrial Myxoma.

• Left atrial myxomas can cause pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure. • TTE can be used to identify an atrial mass and quantify its hemodynamic effects. • Excision of atrial myxoma is indicated to prevent obstructive physiology.

Alterations in heart rate variability are associated with abnormal myocardial perfusion.

Background: Abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system may occur in ischemic heart disease, but the mechanisms by which they are linked are not fully defined. The risk of cardiac events is increased during morning hours. Studying the contributions of autonomic mechanisms may yield insights into risk stratification and treatment.

Cardiopulmonary Baroreflex Control of Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity Is Impaired in Dogs With Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Background: Activation of neurohormonal systems contributes to the progression of heart failure (HF). The mechanism(s) whereby these systems become activated is(are) not fully explained. We determined whether vagal cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity is abnormal in dogs with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the absence of clinical HF, and the relationship of abnormalities in baroreflexes to the development of the neurohumoral excitatory state.

Denervation of vagal cardiopulmonary receptors by injection of kainic acid into the nodose ganglia in dogs.

We determined if kainic acid, a neuroexcitotoxin, could be used to denervate the cell bodies of cardiopulmonary vagal sensory neurons. Kainic acid (5 microg) was injected into the nodose ganglion of five dogs. Ten to fourteen days following this procedure, these kainic acid-injected dogs were anesthetized and tested for the extent of the deafferentation.