Antioxidant vitamins in the prevention of atrial fibrillation: what is the evidence?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Current available therapies remain inadequate in symptom control and secondary prevention and are often associated with significant side effects. The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of AF are poorly understood, although electrophysiological remodeling has been described as an important initiating step.

Platelet function in patients with diabetes mellitus: from a theoretical to a practical perspective.

Patients with diabetes mellitus have an increased prevalence of vascular disease. Pathologic thrombosis associated with atherosclerotic plaque rupture is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Platelets are intimately involved in the initiation and propagation of thrombosis.

Upstream therapies for management of atrial fibrillation: review of clinical evidence and implications for European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Part II: secondary prevention.

Fundamental research into molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF) and improved understanding of processes involved in the initiation and maintenance of AF have transformed the traditional approach to its management by targeting only the electrical aspects, usually with antiarrhythmic drugs and, recently, by ablation. The antiarrhythmic potential of upstream therapies, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), statins, and n-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids, extends beyond the benefit of treating underlying heart disease to modifying the atrial substrate and intervening in specific mechanisms of AF. The key target is structural remodelling of the atria, particularly inflammation and fibrosis, although there is evidence to suggest the direct involvement at the ion channel level.

Tissue Doppler imaging of the tricuspid annulus and myocardial performance index in the evaluation of right ventricular involvement in the acute and late phase of a first inferior myocardial infarction.

Background: Ischemic involvement of the right ventricle (RV) can complicate the early course of inferior ST elevation myocardial infarction (IMI) and has significant management implications but its diagnosis is difficult. This study assessed RV involvement in the acute and late phase of IMI by pulse-wave tissue Doppler (PW-TDI) and RV myocardial performance index (RVMPI).

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 38 patients with first IMI, of whom 14 had RV involvement and 24 no RV involvement, as defined by ST segment elevation ≥0.

Upstream therapies for management of atrial fibrillation: review of clinical evidence and implications for European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Part I: primary prevention.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is also a progressive disease secondary to continuous structural remodelling of the atria due to AF itself, to changes associated with ageing, and to deterioration of underlying heart disease. Current management aims at preventing the recurrence of AF and its consequences (secondary prevention) and includes risk assessment and prevention of stroke, ventricular rate control, and rhythm control therapies including antiarrhythmic drugs and catheter or surgical ablation.

Practice considerations of early aspirin administration following coronary artery bypass surgery.

Thrombotic occlusion of saphenous vein grafts (SVG), the conduits most commonly used in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, causes significant morbidity and mortality. There is class 1A evidence that early aspirin administration following CABG reduces thrombotic SVG occlusion, as well as overall morbidity and mortality. The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology and the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons have issued guidelines recommending that 150 to 325 mg aspirin be administered within 6 hours following CABG.

Churg-Strauss presenting as acute coronary syndrome: sometimes it's zebras.

A 53-year-old patient presented to our institution with troponin-positive chest pain and new-onset peripheral oedema. A week prior, while abroad, he had developed visual disturbances and fever in conjunction with an elevated troponin. Coronary angiography had revealed minor coronary artery disease and he was treated for acute coronary syndrome and occult infection.

Right ventricular myocardial infarction: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.

Right ventricular (RV) ischaemia complicates up to 50% of inferior myocardial infarctions (MIs), though isolated RV myocardial infarction (RVMI) is extremely rare. Although the RV shows good long term recovery, in the short term RV involvement portends a worse prognosis to uncomplicated inferior MI, with haemodynamic and electrophysiologic complications increasing in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Acute RV shock has an equally high mortality to left ventricular (LV) shock.

Anomalous unilateral pulmonary vein in a patient with aortic coarctation.

A 34-year-old woman with previous aortic coarctation repair at the age of 5 years was referred for review. She was in good health. On clinical examination, there was no blood pressure difference between the arms, but pedal pulses were weak.

Conventional second-line salvage chemotherapy regimens are not warranted in patients with malignant lymphomas who have progressive disease after first-line salvage therapy regimens.

This study aimed to determine the outcome of patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma who have an inadequate response to first-line salvage therapy (1 degrees ST) and who subsequently receive a second-line salvage regimen (2 degrees ST) with the intention of ultimately proceeding to high-dose therapy. The outcome of 57 patients [Hodgkin's Lymphoma 17, histologically-aggressive non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) 26, histologically-indolent NHL 14] who received more than one modality of conventional-dose salvage therapy was analysed. Sixteen patients had a partial response (PR) to 1 degrees ST, but subsequently received 2 degrees ST because the PR was judged to be inadequate (iPR) because of persisting disease bulk or marrow infiltration.