Cardiac Muscle Injury and Echocardiographic Plus Electrocardiographic Findings in Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Myocardial injury has been described in coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19). Few studies have reported cardiovascular imaging data with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and electrocardiography (ECG) findings in COVID-19 patients, and their correlation with mortality.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included COVID-19 patients from March 2020 through February 2021 who had TTE and ECG during hospital admission.

Low-Dose Oral Contraceptives and Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection With Heavy Clot Burden in a Nonpregnant Woman.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an infrequent cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) caused by a nontraumatic tear in the coronary artery wall. The true incidence is thought to be underestimated owing to its diagnostic difficulty as coronary angiography is insensitive in assessing the arterial wall structure, thereby warranting additional diagnostic modalities such as intravascular ultrasound. We report a case of a young woman who had been taking oral contraceptives, and presented with acute non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction due to SCAD with superimposed thrombosis.

Cardiovascular complications of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report and review of literature.

Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune response characterized clinically by arterial or venous thrombosis. One of the rare and series forms of APS is the catastrophic APS (CAPS). The incidence of CAPS has been reported in 0.

Association Between Tumor Mutation Profile and Clinical Outcomes Among Hispanic-Latino Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

In the United States, CRC is the third most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Although the incidence of CRC among the Hispanic population has been declining, recently, a dramatic increase in CRC incidents among HL younger than 50 years of age has been reported. The incidence of early-onset CRC is more significant in HL population (45%) than in non-Hispanic Whites (27%) and African-Americans (15%).

A Case of Early Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Recognition With Genetic Screening: A Case Report.

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is one of the most common types of cardiac amyloidosis. Amyloid cardiomyopathy more commonly affects men, elderly, and 3% to 4% of the African-American population. ATTR-CM suspicion and diagnosis is challenging; however, awareness of the disease is increasing, and best practices to identify it are being proposed.

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide: Structure, Function, and Physiological Effects: A Narrative Review.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a cardiac peptide with multiple physiological effects, including natriuresis, blood pressure regulation, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) antagonism. Pre-proANP is synthesized in the atria and must be extensively cleaved by the protease corin to produce the mature 28 amino acid ANP. The downstream signaling pathway of ANP acts through the guanylyl cyclase receptor and the second messenger cGMP.

Intravenous thrombolysis for the management of acute ischemic stroke in patients therapeutically anticoagulated with heparin: A review.

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with alteplase is effective in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, its use rate remains low due to the many exclusion criteria. Recent guidelines recommend excluding patients suffering AIS with an elevated aPTT secondary to heparin exposure from receiving IVT.

Diuretic Resistance in Heart Failure.

Decompensated heart failure accounts for approximately 1 million hospitalizations in the United States annually, and this number is expected to increase significantly in the near future. Diuretics provide the initial management in most patients with fluid overload. However, the development of diuretic resistance remains a significant challenge in the treatment of heart failure.

Glycated hemoglobin, admission blood glucose delta, and associated mortality in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

The importance of glucose metabolism in patients with acute coronary syndrome has been increasingly recognized. We conducted a retrospective study of the associations between prior glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, admission glucose values, HbA1c-derived estimated average glucose levels (eAG), admission glucose delta (admission glucose - eAG), and mortality in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. A total of 676 and 566 patients were included in the in-hospital and 12-month mortality models, respectively.

Cardiovascular risk factors among college students: Knowledge, perception, and risk assessment.

Objective: To assess college students' knowledge and perception of cardiovascular risk factors and to screen for their cardiovascular risks.

Participants: The final sample that responded to recruitment consisted of 158 college students from a midwestern university.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed using convenience sampling.

Pneumopericarditis: A Case of Acute Chest Pain with ST Segment Elevation.

Pneumopericarditis describes a clinical scenario where fluid and air are found within the pericardial space. Although infrequent, pneumopericarditis should be considered in patients presenting with acute chest pain as a differential diagnosis. This is relevant in patients with history of upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, as this may lead to a fistula communicating the GI tract and the pericardium.

Impact of a high-fat meal on assessment of clopidogrel-induced platelet inhibition in healthy subjects.

Background: Ideal conditions for platelet reactivity testing are critical for optimal selection of a P2Y12 inhibitor. Data are inconsistent regarding the impact of high-fat meals on test assessment.

Methods: Participants included 12 healthy subjects not taking antiplatelet drugs after a 12-hour fast.

Reducing cardiovascular risk in spouses of cardiac patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Few studies have examined risk-reducing interventions in spouses of coronary artery bypass patients. This study examined the effects of the Partners Together in Health (PaTH) intervention versus usual care on cardiovascular risk factors. Spouses in the experimental group (n = 17/group) attended cardiac rehabilitation with patients and made the same physical activity and healthy eating changes as patients.

Unique antibody responses to malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA)-protein adducts predict coronary artery disease.

Malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde adducts (MAA) have been implicated in atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of MAA in atherosclerotic disease. Serum samples from controls (n = 82) and patients with; non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), (n = 40), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (n = 42), or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery due to obstructive multi-vessel CAD (n = 72), were collected and tested for antibody isotypes to MAA-modifed human serum albumin (MAA-HSA).

Effects of partners together in health intervention on physical activity and healthy eating behaviors: a pilot study.

Background: Despite proven efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in helping patients initiate physical activity and healthy eating changes, less than 50% of CR participants maintain changes 6 months later.

Objective: The objective of this feasibility study was to test the Partners Together in Health (PaTH) intervention versus usual care in improving physical activity and healthy eating behaviors in coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients and their spouses.

Methods: An experimental, 2-group (n = 17 couples/group), repeated-measures design was used.

Intervention fidelity in a translational study: lessons learned.

This article examined the intervention fidelity strategies used and lessons learned in a translational study. In this study, the behavioral intervention was delivered within an existing clinical practice environment, outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The primary lessons learned were that the fidelity components of design, training, and delivery of the intervention were the most different from fidelity strategies used in typical intervention studies.

IL-6 and its receptors in coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction.

Biomarkers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R), and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) have been reported to be elevated in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between these markers during AMI, as well as their relationship to clinical parameters in an effort to discern their predictive potential in cardiac events. Serum was collected from 73 patients with; AMI, stable coronary artery disease (CAD), and controls during cardiac catheterization.

The effects of motivational interviewing on physiological outcomes.

This study examined the effects of a motivational interviewing (MI) intervention on physiological outcomes among hyperlipidemic persons randomly assigned to an MI (n = 12) or an attention-control (AC; n = 12) group. Lipid and cardiorespiratory fitness levels were measured pre- and postintervention. The MI intervention was significant in reducing total cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol but not in increasing VO(2max) when compared with the AC group.

Comparison of N-acetylcysteine and fenoldopam for preventing contrast-induced nephropathy (CAFCIN).

Background: N-acetylcysteine and fenoldopam are commonly prescribed for prevention of contrast mediated nephropathy, however, comparative superiority of either agent is unknown.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized, parallel-group trial, adult cardiac catheterization patients at the university and veterans' hospitals with pre-existing stable renal insufficiency were randomized to N-acetylcysteine 600 mg orally twice daily for 4 doses or fenoldopam 0.1 mcg/kg/min intravenously for a minimum of 8 h.

Acute myocardial infarction after a negative dobutamine stress echocardiogram.

Acute myocardial infarction is a rare complication of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). We described angiographic findings of a patient who developed acute inferior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction 2h after a normal dobutamine stress echocardiogram. The patient failed thrombolysis and underwent coronary angiography, which showed 60% stenosis of proximal right coronary artery with a complex ulcerated lesion and intracoronary thrombus.

Coronary artery rupture associated with amphetamine abuse.

We report a case of spontaneous coronary artery rupture associated with amphetamine abuse in a 31-year-old woman. The patient presented to the emergency department with sudden onset of central chest pain and a normal electrocardiogram. Cardiac enzymes were consistent with acute myocardial infarction.