Toward a Universal Definition of Etiologies in Heart Failure: Categorizing Causes and Advancing Registry Science.

Heart failure (HF) is a well-described final common pathway for a broad range of diseases however substantial confusion exists regarding how to describe, study, and track these underlying etiologic conditions. We describe (1) the overlap in HF etiologies, comorbidities, and case definitions as currently used in HF registries led or managed by members of the global HF roundtable; (2) strategies to improve the quality of evidence on etiologies and modifiable risk factors of HF in registries; and (3) opportunities to use clinical HF registries as a platform for public health surveillance, implementation research, and randomized registry trials to reduce the global burden of noncommunicable diseases. Investment and collaboration among countries to improve the quality of evidence in global HF registries could contribute to achieving global health targets to reduce noncommunicable diseases and overall improvements in population health.

Randomized trial comparing radial hemostasis techniques; catechol conjugated chitosan pad (InnoSEAL) versus pneumatic compression band.

Objectives: Primary objectives: to compare radial artery occlusion rate (RAO) after cardiac catheterization between catecholamine-chitosan pad (InnoSEAL) and pneumatic compression device (PCD) and to compare difference in hemostasis time and radial monitoring termination time between two arms. Secondary objectives: to compare radial site bleeding and ease of use of two methods by cath-lab technicians.

Background: Hemostatic pads may be an effective alternative to PCD with lesser chance of access site complications with advantage of shortened compression time.

Association of ST segment depression >5 min after exercise testing with severity of coronary artery disease.

Objective: To determine the association of prolonged ST segment depression after an exercise test with severity of coronary artery disease.

Methods: A cross sectional study of 100 consecutive patients referred to the cardiology laboratory for stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) conducted between April-August 2008. All selected patients were monitored until their ST segment depression was recovered to baseline.

Outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a tertiary care cardiac centre.

Objective: To determine the outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a tertiary care cardiac centre.

Methods: Medical records of 104 consecutive patients presented in our hospital between January 2006 to December 2007 with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and treated with primary PCI as a mode of reperfusion were reviewed. The primary end point was in hospital mortality and secondary end points were 30 day mortality, myocardial infarction, recurrent angina and congestive cardiac failure, from discharge to one month follow up.