Psychological Distress in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic and its Association with Coping Mechanisms.

Background And Objectives: Coronary artery disease (CAD) has been associated with increased stress both etiologically and as a consequence. The current pandemic of COVID-19 infection has impacted the personal, social, and occupational spheres of people's lives and has negatively affected mental health. People with existing chronic medical illnesses may be more vulnerable to the stressful effects of the ongoing pandemic.

Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) of carotid arteries and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): An analytical cross-sectional study from a teaching hospital, Kerala, South India.

Introduction: Evidence related to carotid artery F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG -PET) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is limited from a low-resource setting. The present study aims to examine the association between FDG-PET uptakes by the carotid arteries in patients having different grades of NAFLD.

Materials And Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was done in a tertiary care center in South India for 1 year.

Personalized allocation of acetylsalicylic acid therapy for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease.

Background: A single-daily dose of 75 mg of acetylsalicylic acid inhibits 100% of thromboxane-B2 synthesis within 30-60 min. Thromboxane-B2 synthesis then recovers slowly as new platelets are released from the bone marrow. Normally, only 10% of the platelets are replaced daily by new platelets entering circulation.

Effectiveness of Framingham and ASCVD Risk Scores in Predicting Coronary Artery Disease - A Comparative Study with Syntax Score.

Objectives: Primary objective was to determine an association between Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) and Framingham (FRS) risk scores with Syntax score(SS). Secondary objective was to determine sensitivity, specificity and discriminative ability of FRS and ASCVD risk scores in detecting Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and predicting its severity.

Materials And Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in the Comprehensive Health Clinic of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala.

Compliance of Secondary Prevention Strategies in Coronary Artery Disease Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus - A Cross-Sectional Analytical Survey from Kerala, India.

Context: There is limited data related to compliance of secondary prevention strategies for coronary artery diseases (CAD) among patients with and without diabetes.

Objectives: The objective was to compare compliance to secondary prevention strategies for CAD including smoking cessation, weight management, blood pressure (BP) control, Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol control and adequate physical activity between patients with and without diabetes.

Settings And Design: This is a hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study.

Health-Related Quality of Life of Coronary Artery Disease Patients under Secondary Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Survey from South India.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is emerging as an important outcome among patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD). The primary objective of this study was to report the HRQOL of CAD patients under secondary prevention-related treatment and follow-up using the 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) tool.

Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional survey done in a hospital/clinic setting.

Compliance to secondary prevention strategies for coronary artery disease: a hospital-based cross-sectional survey from Ernakulam, South India.

Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to report the compliance to secondary prevention strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD), such as smoking cessation, weight management, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol control, blood pressure control, glycaemic control, physical activity and cardiovascular drug therapy from a resource-limited setting.

Design: Analytical cross-sectional survey with data collection using questionnaire administered by study personnel.

Setting: Institutional-two tertiary care hospitals and two cardiology clinics.

Validation of a Genome-Wide Polygenic Score for Coronary Artery Disease in South Asians.

Background: Genome-wide polygenic scores (GPS) integrate information from many common DNA variants into a single number. Because rates of coronary artery disease (CAD) are substantially higher among South Asians, a GPS to identify high-risk individuals may be particularly useful in this population.

Objectives: This analysis used summary statistics from a prior genome-wide association study to derive a new GPS for South Asians.

Primary transcatheter closure of post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture using amplatzer atrial septal occlusion device: A study from tertiary care in South India.

Objective: The study investigated effectiveness of transcatheter closure of post-myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular septal rupture (VSR) using atrial septal device (ASD) occluder in a cohort of patients admitted at our institute.

Method: This was a retrospective, observational and single center study, which included patients who were treated with transcatheter closure for post-MI VSR at our tertiary care center between May 2000 and August 2014 depending upon inclusion and exclusion criteria. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 30-days follow-up.

Bio-width index: a novel biomarker for prognostication of long term outcomes in patients with anaemia and heart failure.

Background: The utility of biomarkers for prognostication of long term outcomes in patients with anaemia and heart failure(HF) is not well defined. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of a novel biomarker, bio-width index (BWI),to improve risk stratification in patients with anaemia and acutely decompensated heart failure(ADHF), in comparison to conventional markers, B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) and red- cell distribution width(RDW).

Methods: Data from 1569 consecutive patients with ADHF treated at a multidisciplinary HF unit was analysed in this study.

Derivation and Validation of a Novel Prediction Model to Identify Low-Risk Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Accurate identification of low-risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) who may be eligible for outpatient treatment or early discharge can have substantial cost-saving benefit. The purpose of this study was to derive and validate a prediction model to effectively identify patients with PE at low risk of short-term mortality, right ventricular dysfunction, and other nonfatal outcomes. This study analyzed data from 400 consecutive patients with acute PE.

A Case Series of Young Patients with Completely Reversed Severe Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a progressive symptomatic disorder, which may ultimately lead to death if left untreated. Although majority of PAH cases are idiopathic, pulmonary hypertension resulting due to certain underlying conditions are also observed frequently. In such cases, it becomes essential to identify any potentially treatable or reversible causes for PAH.

Isolated rheumatic severe tricuspid regurgitation.

Severe isolated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is very rare, with most cases of TR being functional and secondary to pulmonary hypertension from left heart pathologies. We report an unusual case of a young Nigerian male, who presented to us with dyspnea, repeated hospital admissions for heart failure, and a childhood history of rheumatic fever. Echocardiogram showed massively dilated right atrium and ventricle, noncoaptation of thickened tricuspid valve with torrential free tricuspid regurgitation.

Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Causing Fatal Purulent Pericarditis.

Though pericardial disease is common in patients with renal disease, purulent pericarditis is very rare. We report a fatal case of purulent pericarditis and sepsis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a 78-year-old male with systemic hypertension and renal disease along with the molecular characterization of its resistant mechanism.