Outcomes of nurse practitioner-led care in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To assess randomized controlled trials evaluating the impact of nurse practitioner-led cardiovascular care.

Background: Systematic review of nurse practitioner-led care in patients with cardiovascular disease has not been completed.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tapered vs. Uniform Tube-Load Modeling of Blood Pressure Wave Propagation in Human Aorta.

In this paper, tapered vs. uniform tube-load models are comparatively investigated as mathematical representation for blood pressure (BP) wave propagation in human aorta. The relationship between the aortic inlet and outlet BP waves was formulated based on the exponentially tapered and uniform tube-load models.

The Effects of Acute Atmospheric Pressure Changes on the Occurrence of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Case-Crossover Study.

Background: Few studies have explored the influence of short-term exposure to atmospheric pressure changes on the abrupt onset of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We sought to evaluate the association between acute atmospheric pressure changes and the occurrence of STEMI.

Methods: We studied STEMI patients from the Alberta Provincial Project for Outcomes Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease (APPROACH) from March 1, 2002 to December 31, 2016 in a case-crossover study design.

The Association between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. There are conflicting results regarding the association between COPD and CAD. We sought to measure the association between COPD and angiographically diagnosed CAD in a population-based cohort.

Effect of anticoagulants on admission rates and length of hospital stay for acute venous thromboembolism: A systematic review of randomized control trials.

Background: There is a paucity of data available on hospitalization and length of stay (LOS) for different anticoagulant therapies. We sought to compare and summarize admission rates and LOS, and describe the frequency of reporting these two outcomes in randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing different anticoagulant therapies for venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Methods: A literature search was conducted from inception to August 15, 2016 on RCTs of anticoagulant therapy for patients with VTE.

Short- and long-term mortality after pulmonary embolism in patients with and without cancer.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. It is known that the risk of death varies by provoking factors; however, it is unknown if the risk of death persists beyond the initial diagnosis among patients with cancer-associated and non-cancer provoked patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of cancer on overall, short- and long-term mortality in a cohort of consecutive incident PE patients.

Trends in admission rates and in-hospital stay for venous thromboembolism.

Background: Acute venous thromboembolism leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Advances in pharmacotherapy facilitate outpatient care in low-risk acute venous thromboembolism. The proportion of hospitalized acute venous thromboembolism cases and the average length of stay are not known.

Sex disparities in hospitalization and mortality rates for venous thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major health problem for both men and women. Whether sex disparities exist for outcomes after acute VTE is unknown. We sought to measure sex-specific rates of hospitalization for and mortality from acute VTE.

Impact of Rural Residence on Warfarin Use and Clinical Events in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Canadian Population Based Study.

Background And Purpose: We studied whether anticoagulant use and outcomes differed between rural versus urban Canadian non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients prior to the introduction of direct oral anticoagulant drugs.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 25,284 adult Albertans with NVAF between April 1, 1999 and December 31, 2008.

Results: Compared to urban patients, rural patients were older (p = 0.

2014 focused update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an extremely common clinical problem with an important population morbidity and mortality burden. The management of AF is complex and fraught with many uncertain and contentious issues, which are being addressed by extensive ongoing basic and clinical research. The Canadian Cardiovascular Society AF Guidelines Committee produced an extensive set of evidence-based AF management guidelines in 2010 and updated them in the areas of anticoagulation and rate/rhythm control in 2012.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is a critical determinant of angiotensin II-induced loss of vascular smooth muscle cells and adverse vascular remodeling.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is a key negative regulator of the renin-angiotensin system and metabolizes angiotensin II (Ang II) into Ang 1 to 7. Ang II is a vasoactive peptide, which plays an important role in vascular disease. The objective of the present study was to define the role of ACE2 in pathological vascular remodeling.

A type A aortic dissection missed by non-cardiac gated contrast-enhanced computed tomography due to an aortic root dissection flap masquerading as an aortic valve apparatus: a case report.

Introduction: Though computed tomographic angiography has very high sensitivity and specificity to diagnose acute aortic dissection, false-negative studies can occur and secondary tests may be required to make the diagnosis.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 57-year-old Caucasian man with a typical presentation for acute type A aortic dissection in whom the initial non-cardiac gated computed tomographic angiogram was negative, leading to a delay in surgical management. Transesophageal echocardiography and post hoc 3D reconstruction of the original computed tomographic scan revealed a dissection flap confined to the aortic root, immediately superior to the sinuses of Valsalva and masquerading as part of the aortic valve apparatus.