Association between Beta1 -Adrenergic Receptor Polymorphism and Risk of ICD Shock in Heart Failure Patients.

Background: Sympathetic activation in heart failure patients favors the development of ventricular arrhythmias, thus leading to an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. β1 - and β2 -adrenergic receptor polymorphisms have been linked to the risk of sudden death. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) are implanted in a large percentage of heart failure patients, and beyond preventing sudden cardiac death they provide a continuous monitoring of major ventricular arrhythmias and of their own interventions.

Safety of clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors in patients undergoing drug-eluting stent implantation.

Objective: A pharmacodynamic interaction between clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has been suggested, leading to reduced clopidogrel-induced platelet inhibitory effects. However, data from clinical studies are conflicting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of long-term clopidogrel and PPI therapy.

Prevalence, predictors, and long-term prognosis of premature discontinuation of oral antiplatelet therapy after drug eluting stent implantation.

To date, limited information is available on the long-term discontinuation rates of antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stent implantation. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of premature discontinuation of oral antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stent implantation and to evaluate its effects on long-term prognosis. We studied 1,358 consecutive patients successfully treated with drug-eluting stents and discharged with dual oral antiplatelet therapy.

Usefulness of ultrasonographic markers of carotid atherosclerosis (intima-media thickness, unstable carotid plaques and severe carotid stenosis) for predicting presence and extent of coronary artery disease.

Objective: To investigate the usefulness of carotid ultrasound evaluation in predicting the presence and the extent of coronary artery disease in a consecutive series of patients.

Design: We examined retrospectively 1337 patients in whom both coronary angiography and carotid ultrasound were evaluated, from 1995 to 2005. Markers of carotid artery disease were considered, such as intima-media thickness more than 0.