Association between statin exposure and diabetes incidence among privately-insured patients before and after applying a novel technique to control for selection bias.

Introduction: The association between statins and incident diabetes mellitus (DM) in observational studies is much larger than that reported from randomized controlled trials. We sought to assess this association using a novel design controlling for selection bias.

Methods: Using data from MarketScan, we identified a cohort of non-diabetic patients who initiated a statin and matched them to patients not taking statins.

Catheter-Directed Mechanical Thrombectomy in Massive Pulmonary Embolism With Cardiogenic Shock.

We discuss a patient who presented with cardiogenic shock secondary to massive pulmonary embolism and right ventricular failure. She was managed by a multidisciplinary heart team and treated with catheter-directed thrombectomy, followed by ProtekDuo (Tandem [Liva Nova], London, United Kingdom) heart percutaneous right ventricular support leading to complete recovery from this often fatal condition. ().

Association between pulmonary function and left ventricular volume and function in duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by absence of the subsarcolemmal protein dystrophin, present in skeletal muscles and cardiomyocytes. We hypothesized that progressive respiratory and left ventricular (LV) insufficiencies in DMD could be parallel and interrelated phenomena.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 27 patients with DMD.

X-ray canary in the cath lab: Posterior cataracts.

Cataract formation in the posterior subcapsular region of the lens is a lesion highly specific to both high-dose acute radiation exposure and chronic low-dose exposure. Low-dose radiation may not manifest lens changes for several decades after initial exposure. Cardiac catheterization team members need to be educated on, and protected from, this form of radiation injury as its long latency period between exposure and physical damage may acutely reduce the sense of hazard amongst healthcare radiation workers.

Beta-1 vs. beta-2 adrenergic control of coronary blood flow during isometric handgrip exercise in humans.

During exercise, β-adrenergic receptors are activated throughout the body. In healthy humans, the net effect of β-adrenergic stimulation is an increase in coronary blood flow. However, the role of vascular β1 vs.

Esmolol infusion versus propranolol infusion: effects on heart rate and blood pressure in healthy volunteers.

Despite its widespread clinical use, the β-adrenergic receptor antagonist esmolol hydrochloride is not commonly used in human physiology research, and the effective dose of esmolol (compared with the nonselective β-blocker propranolol) is unclear. In four separate studies we used cycle ergometry exercise and infusions of isoproterenol and epinephrine to test the heart rate (HR)-lowering effect of esmolol compared with propranolol and saline in healthy humans. In , both esmolol (ΔHR 57 ± 6 beats/min) and propranolol (ΔHR 56 ± 7 beats/min) attenuated exercise tachycardia compared with saline (ΔHR 88 ± 17 beats/min).

Cardiovascular disease risk assessment and prevention: current guidelines and limitations.

Even after decades of progress in understanding atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and improved cardiovascular event prevention, the incidence, consequences and cost of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain a significant public health issue. Observational studies have identified major ASCVD risk factors and lead to the development of a number of risk assessment systems/scores now in use. However many patients who will develop clinically important CVD are not identified by current systems or approaches and significant numbers of recurrent cardiovascular events continue to occur even after aggressive secondary prevention treatment strategies are utilized.