The Many Lives of a Complex Marfan Syndrome Patient: Staged Therapeutic Decisions.

We present a complex Marfan case, with previous type A aortic dissection, subsequent progressing aortic arch aneurysm, type B chronic aortic dissection, and Barlow disease with severe mitral regurgitation, all expressions of the same phenotype, all needing staged complex surgical therapies. ().

Changes in plasma levels of MMP-9, MMP-7 and their inhibitors in patients with coronary artery disease.

Unlabelled: To describe the enzymatic profile of plasma matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-7 and -9) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and -2) in different categories of patients (pts.) with coronary artery disease (CAD), and their relationship with clinical status, left ventricular (LV) function and remodelling.

Methods: Total plasma MMP7, active fraction of MMP9, TIMP1 and TIMP2 were determined in 68 consecutive pts with confirmed CAD (Group A, 56.

Is acute myocardial infarction a localized or rather a global coronary phenomenon?

Background: Use of qualitative assessment of coronary artery flow (TIMI), although widely spread, represents a subjective method, a quantitative assessment (CTFC) being necessary in order to standardize and facilitate comparisons and communications of angiographic trials. This study aims at appreciating whether myocardial infarction represents a global phenomenon that affects the whole myocardium, also affecting the coronary artery flow in non-culprit arteries.

Materials And Methods: 66 patients that underwent primary PCI with stent and 66 patients with normal angiographic coronary arteries were studied.

Current challenges of anticoagulant treatment.

Anticoagulant therapy plays an important role in current medical practice. The main types of anticoagulant agents are: heparins, hirudins and vitamin K antagonists. None of the drugs used as anticoagulants meet the criteria of an ideal anticoagulant because they have side effects and they interact with other compounds.