Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Lasers Med Sci 2019 Mar 16. Epub 2019 Mar 16.

Department of Cardiovascular Medichine, Tokyo Medical and Dental Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) is a unique revascularization modality that can vaporize plaque and thrombus. Compared to thrombus aspiration therapy, ELCA is reported to provide better microcirculation and reduced peripheral embolism in treatment for acute coronary syndrome. Excimer laser catheters come in various sizes, and we sought to compare the 0. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Mar 15;9(3):e025232. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.

Objective: Morphine is frequently used in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) due to its analgesic effect, it being recommended in the main cardiology guidelines in Europe and the USA. However, controversy exists regarding its routine use due to potential safety concerns. We conducted a systematic review of randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies to synthesise the available evidence. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom, and National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study used optical coherence tomography to investigate the mechanism of false lumen (FL) formation in spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) by studying: 1) differences between fenestrated and nonfenestrated SCAD; 2) vasa vasorum density; and 3) light attenuation characteristics of the FL.

Background: SCAD is an increasingly recognized cause of acute coronary syndromes, characterized by FL formation and compression of the true lumen (TL). The mechanisms underlying FL formation remain poorly understood. Read More

J Cardiol 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, South Korea. Electronic address:

Background: Many studies have reported both systemic inflammatory response and malnutrition provide valuable predictions of prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aims to assess the association between the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) by combining C-reactive protein and serum albumin concentration, and clinical outcomes in patients with ACS.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients admitted for ACS between June 2010 and May 2013 in St. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Feb 22. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

San Raffaele Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy.

Biochemistry (Mosc) 2018 Dec;83(12):1437-1447

Section on Intercellular Interactions, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Atherosclerosis underlies the development of many cardiovascular diseases that continue to hold a leading place among the causes of death in developed countries. The role of activated immune cells in atherosclerosis progression has been convincingly demonstrated, but the mechanism of their action remains poorly investigated. Since atherosclerosis is associated with chronic inflammatory response, involvement of viral and bacterial infections in atherogenesis has been examined. Read More

J Ultrasound 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Cardiology, University of Health Sciences - Adana Health Practice and Research Center, Adana, Turkey.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the relation between renal cortical stiffness (CS) obtained by shear-wave elastography (SWE) and contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) development in interventional treatment-planned acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

Methods: Our study group consisted of 465 ACS patients. Routine laboratory assessments, B-mode, Doppler, and SWE renal ultrasonography (USG) evaluations were performed. Read More

J Rheumatol 2019 Mar 15. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

From the Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Rheumatology, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada, 3Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Dr Lundberg was supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Rheumatism Association, King Gustaf V 80 Year Foundation, and the Stockholm County Council (ALF project). Dr Holmqvist was supported by grants from the Swedish Rheumatism Association, the King Gustaf V 60 Year Foundation, the Nanna Svartz Foundation, and the Stockholm County Council (ALF project). Dr Lundberg has received honoraria from Bristol Myers Squibb and MedImmune and is currently receiving a research grant from Bristol Myers Squibb and from Astra Zeneca for projects unrelated to the present manuscript. No reference is made to specific products in our work, nor do we suggest therapeutic choices in our conclusions. The other authors declare no competing interests. Address correspondence to Valérie Leclair, MD, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Karolinska Hospital T2, SE-17176, Stockholm.

Objective: Evidence suggest an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases including acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of ACS in an incident IIM cohort compared to the general Swedish population.

Methods: A cohort of 655 incident IIM individuals and 6813 general population comparators were identified from national registries. Read More

Pharmacol Ther 2019 Mar 12. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Klinik für Innere Medizin I, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany. Electronic address:

High LDL-cholesterol concentrations constitute a risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. By consensus, cholesterol-lowering therapy is initiated with a statin that reduces endogenous cholesterol synthesis, upregulates hepatic LDL receptor activity, increases LDL clearance and lowers LDL-cholesterol concentrations in the bloodstream. The efficacy of statin treatment is dose dependent and achieves a risk reduction of up to 50%. Read More

Atheroscler Suppl 2019 Mar;36:19-23

Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University - Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, 100029, China; Department of Atherosclerosis, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China. Electronic address:

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia developed into severe cardiovascular consequences early. Untreated HoFH usually cannot survive over 30 years old. Acute coronary syndrome(ACS) caused by plaque rupture is one of the main causes of death in HoFH. Read More

Europace 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

School of Medicine, Belgrade University; Cardiology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.

The management of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a patient with existing atrial fibrillation (AF) often presents a management dilemma both in the acute phase and post-ACS, since the majority of AF patients will already be receiving oral anticoagulation (OAC) for stroke prevention and will require further antithrombotic treatment to reduce the risk of in-stent thrombosis or recurrent cardiac events. Current practice recommendations are based largely on consensus option as there is limited evidence from randomized controlled trials. Prior to the launch of the new European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) consensus document, a survey was undertaken to examine current clinical management of these patients across centres in Europe. Read More

Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars 2019 Mar;47(2):137-139

Department of Cardiology, Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey.

For long-term patency, a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft is considered the gold standard for left anterior descending artery (LAD) revascularization. Subsequent occlusion of a LIMA graft may be related to atherosclerosis, narrowing at anastomotic locations, fixed torsions within the graft, straight tubular stenosis, dissection, or vasospasm. Late thrombotic occlusion of a LIMA, however, is rare, and the cause is not known, though case reports can be found in the literature. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2019 25;6:36. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Cardiology Unit, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona", Salerno, Italy.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for the majority of death and hospitalization, health care expenditures and loss of productivity in developed country. CVD research, thus, plays a key role for improving patients' outcomes as well as for the sustainability of health systems. The increasing costs and complexity of modern medicine along with the fragmentation in healthcare organizations interfere with improving quality care and represent a missed opportunity for research. Read More

Eur Respir Rev 2019 Mar 14;28(151). Epub 2019 Mar 14.

CIBER de enfermedades respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is defined as a combination of obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg·m), daytime hypercapnia (arterial carbon dioxide tension ≥45 mmHg) and sleep disordered breathing, after ruling out other disorders that may cause alveolar hypoventilation. OHS prevalence has been estimated to be ∼0.4% of the adult population. Read More

J Int Med Res 2019 Mar 14:300060519833576. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Cardiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the relationship between the serum cystatin C (Cys C) level and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients of advanced age.

Methods: The study included 184 patients with ACS and 46 healthy control subjects. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 14. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2019 Mar;12(3):e007445

Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital Heart and Vascular Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (D.L.B.).

Background: In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), who did not receive P2Y inhibitor pretreatment, the optimal timing of P2Y inhibitor loading dose remains debated. We sought to examine whether the choice of administration of the clopidogrel loading dose before or after the start of PCI had an impact on periprocedural complications, including bleeding.

Methods And Results: The CHAMPION PHOENIX (A Clinical Trial Comparing Cangrelor to Clopidogrel Standard Therapy in Subjects Who Require Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) double-blind randomized trial compared cangrelor with clopidogrel loading dose at the time of PCI. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2019 Mar;12(3):e007541

Cardiovascular Research Foundation, New York, NY (P.G., T.P.V., G.W.S.).

Background: We sought to determine whether the risks and benefits of prolonging dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) beyond 1 year after drug-eluting stent implantation depend on clinical presentation in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Methods And Results: Randomized controlled trials comparing ≤1- versus >1-year DAPT after drug-eluting stent placement were searched through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane databases, and proceedings of international meetings. The primary efficacy end point was myocardial infarction, whereas the primary safety end point was major bleeding. Read More

Angiology 2019 Mar 14:3319719835637. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

1 Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.

There is a lack of studies that evaluate the association between normal weight central obesity and subsequent outcomes in patients with premature acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We evaluated 338 consecutive male patients (aged ≤ 55 years) with premature ACS. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Read More

J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2019 Jan-Mar;31(1):36-38

Department of Cardiology, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Background: Ischemic heart disease is responsible for approximately 1/3 of all global deaths, making it a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. Non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) which is an acute event in spectrum of coronary artery disease is a potentially lifethreatening emergency, makes up for the majority of admissions to a cardiac unit with one-year mortality rate of 23.5%. Read More

Neth Heart J 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Department of Cardiology, OLVG Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Objectives/background: In patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD) the decision whether to treat a single culprit vessel or to perform multivessel revascularisation may be challenging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MV-PCI) versus culprit vessel only (CV-PCI) in patients with stable coronary artery disease or non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: In this dual-centre, prospective, randomised study a total 215 patients with MVD were randomly assigned to MV-PCI or CV-PCI. Read More

Curr Cardiol Rep 2019 Mar 13;21(4):26. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

PERFUSE Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 930 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.

Purpose Of Review: The last 40 years of clinical research in interventional cardiology were extraordinarily innovative. This article will review the most promising up and coming interventional cardiovascular therapies, with a primary focus on the treatment of coronary artery disease.

Recent Findings: From the first stent, to the first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), and the left appendage closure technique, percutaneous interventions revolutionized the treatment of multiple diseases and dramatically improved the prognosis of many patients. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Mar 13;9(3):e022479. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Objectives: Successful treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) relies on its rapid recognition. It is unclear whether the accepted presentation of chest pain applies to different ethnic groups. We thus examined potential ethnic variations in ACS symptoms and clinical care outcomes in white, South Asian and Chinese patients. Read More

Heart 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Department of Cardiology, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the available data on antithrombotic therapy after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In the absence of large randomised clinical trials, clinical practice is leaning towards evidence reported in other populations. Due to the greater risk of major bleeding associated with oral anticoagulation using a vitamin-K antagonist (VKA), antiplatelet therapy (APT) may be considered as the first-line treatment of patients undergoing TAVI. Read More

J Invasive Cardiol 2019 Mar 15. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, 4800 Alberta Avenue, El Paso, TX 79905 USA.

Objectives: We evaluated the efficacy of low-dose (LD) radiation (≤7.5 frames/second [f/s]) compared with standard-dose (SD) radiation (≥10 f/s) in cardiac catheterization (CC) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients undergoing CC with LD vs SD radiation have not been previously studied. Read More

JAMA Cardiol 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.

Importance: At one end of the coronary artery disease (CAD) spectrum, there are patients with multiple recurrent acute coronary syndromes (rACS), and at the other end there are those with long-standing clinical stability. Predicting the natural history of these patients is challenging because unstable plaques often heal without resulting in ACS.

Objective: To assess in vivo the coronary atherosclerotic phenotype as well as the prevalence and characteristics of healed coronary plaques by optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging in patients at the extremes of the CAD spectrum. Read More

JAMA Cardiol 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Cardiology Department, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital.

Aims: Objective data on epidemiology, management and outcome of patients with acute cardiac illness are still scarce, and producing evidence-based guidelines remains an issue. In order to define the clinical characteristics and the potential predictors of in-hospital and long-term mortality, we performed a retrospective, observational study, in a tertiary cardiac centre in Italy.

Methods: One thousand one hundred and sixty-five consecutive patients, admitted to our intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) during the year 2016, were included in the study. Read More

Mini Rev Med Chem 2019 Mar 12. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Cardiology, Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, UMC Utrecht Regenerative Medicine Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht. Netherlands.

Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1), a secreted glycoprotein, has been shown to participate in regulating developmental processes and to be involved in states of disease and injury. Spatiotemporal regulation and posttranslational modifications contribute to its specific functions and make it an intriguing candidate to study disease mechanisms and potentially develop new therapies. With cardiovascular diseases as the primary cause of death worldwide, clarification of mechanisms underlying cardiac regeneration and revascularization remains essential. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2019 Jan;11(1):E17

Department of Cardiology, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Rion, Achaia, Greece.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2017. Read More

Dis Markers 2019 4;2019:2067353. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a cell surface transmembrane multiligand receptor, encoded by the gene. RAGE presents many transcripts, is expressed mainly in the lung, and involves multiple pathways (such as NFB, Akt, p38, and MAP kinases) that initiate and perpetuate an unfavorable proinflammatory state. Due to these numerous functional activities, RAGE is implicated in multiple diseases. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2019 15;14:1193-1212. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea,

Background: Ticagrelor (TCG) is used to inhibit platelet aggregation in patients with acute coronary syndrome, but its poor solubility and low bioavailability limit its in vivo efficacy. The purpose of this study was to manufacture an optimized TCG-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) to enhance the oral bioavailability and antiplatelet activity of TCG.

Materials And Methods: Solubility and emulsification tests were conducted to determine the most suitable oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants. Read More

Drug Des Devel Ther 2019 20;13:719-730. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Department of Cardiology, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China,

Background: The efficacy and safety of ticagrelor following percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with acute coronary syndrome remains unclear. This study sought to evaluate clinical outcomes of ticagrelor as part of dual-antiplatelet treatment for these patients.

Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and other Internet sources were searched for eligible citations. Read More

Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2019 Mar 12. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Service de Néphrologie-hypertension, Dialyses, Transplantation Rénale, Hôpital Bretonneau et hôpital Clocheville,

Background And Objectives: Thrombotic microangiopathies constitute a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Secondary thrombotic microangiopathies are less characterized than primary thrombotic microangiopathies (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and atypical hemolytic and uremic syndrome). The relative frequencies and outcomes of secondary and primary thrombotic microangiopathies are unknown. Read More

Eur J Prev Cardiol 2019 Mar 12:2047487319836327. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

16 Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Trust and Imperial College, London, UK.

Introduction: The benefits of short versus long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) based on the third generation P2Y12 antagonists prasugrel or ticagrelor, in patients with acute coronary syndromes treated with percutaneous coronary intervention remain to be clearly defined due to current evidences limited to patients treated with clopidogrel.

Methods: All acute coronary syndrome patients from the REgistry of New Antiplatelets in patients with Myocardial Infarction (RENAMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and treated with aspirin, prasugrel or ticagrelor were stratified according to DAPT duration, that is, shorter than 12 months (D1 group), 12 months (D2 group) and longer than 12 months (D3 group). The three groups were compared before and after propensity score matching. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2019 Mar 12. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D-30625, Hannover, Germany.

Aims: Understanding the pathophysiological background on haemodynamic changes in acute myocardial infarction and during its interventional treatment is important to adequately use mechanical circulatory support.

Methods And Results: We describe haemodynamic simulations based on a real case scenario of infarct-related ischaemia with beginning haemodynamic compromise illustrating the advantage of active haemodynamic support. The patient case used for computer simulation is that of an acute coronary syndrome, slightly hypotonic. Read More

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2019 Mar 12. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have assumed an increasingly vital role in treating various hematologic and oncologic malignancies. However, adverse effects with respect to vascular disease have been reported following administration of this class of medications. Here, we present a case report of TKI toxicity, manifesting as comorbid Moyamoya syndrome and obstructive coronary artery disease leading to a type 1 non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Read More

Anatol J Cardiol 2019 Mar;21(Suppl 1):1-40

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir-Turkey.

Natriuretic peptides have long been introduced into clinical practice. These biomarkers have certainly been shown to provide useful information in the diagnosis, prognosis and risk stratification in heart failure and also may have a role in the guidance of heart failure therapy. Although, there are some limitations in using of these markers such as lack of specificity, aging, renal dysfunction or obesity, among the huge number of candidates for heart failure biomarkers, only natriuretic peptides are currently widely used in daily clinical practice in heart failure. Read More

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2019 Mar;93(4):E259-E260

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY.

In patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing coronary angiography, elderly women have nearly 50% lower rates of adverse events compared to elderly men, primarily driven by lower cardiovascular mortality. Nonelderly men and women patients with ACS have similar risk-adjusted rates of adverse events. Elderly ACS patients have lower rates of and delays in coronary revascularization than younger patients. Read More

Eur Heart J 2019 Mar 11. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, UK.

Aims: The co-transmitter neuropeptide-Y (NPY) is released during high sympathetic drive, including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and can be a potent vasoconstrictor. We hypothesized that myocardial NPY levels correlate with reperfusion and subsequent recovery following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), and sought to determine if and how NPY constricts the coronary microvasculature.

Methods And Results: Peripheral venous NPY levels were significantly higher in patients with STEMI (n = 45) compared to acute coronary syndromes/stable angina ( n = 48) or with normal coronary arteries (NC, n = 16). Read More

Caspian J Intern Med 2019 ;10(1):86-91

Karaganda State Medical University, Karaganda, Kazakhstan.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are global problems. They are causes of death in about 43% of people worldwide and may become the most widespread reason of death by 2020. The prognosis is directly dependent to immediate diagnosis and on time treatment. Read More

Ther Clin Risk Manag 2019 15;15:285-291. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Division of Cardiology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan,

Background: Thinning of the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaque is a major component of plaque vulnerability. The high resolution of optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides an accurate measurement of fibrous-cap thickness. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with inflammation and enhanced local expression of matrix metalloproteinases. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Mar;8(6):e011139

1 University of Florida, College of Medicine-Jacksonville Jacksonville FL.

Background There are limited data on how the combination of diabetes mellitus ( DM ) and chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) affects cardiovascular outcomes as well as response to different P2Y receptor antagonists, which represented the aim of the present investigation. Methods and Results In this post hoc analysis of the PLATO (Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes) trial, which randomized acute coronary syndrome patients to ticagrelor versus clopidogrel, patients (n=15 108) with available DM and CKD status were classified into 4 groups: DM +/ CKD + (n=1058), DM +/ CKD - (n=2748), DM -/ CKD + (n=2160), and DM -/ CKD - (n=9142). The primary efficacy end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 12 months. Read More

Psychosom Med 2019 Mar 7. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Objective: Depression in patients with cardiovascular disease is associated with increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes. Investigators have searched for potential biobehavioral explanations for this increased risk. Platelet activation and response to serotonin is an attractive potential mechanism. Read More

Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med 2019 Mar 11;21(3):15. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, 1717 West Congress Parkway, Suite 307, Kellogg Building, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Coronary artery disease remains the most common cause of death worldwide. In patients with biomarker-positive acute coronary syndrome, the combination of guideline-directed medical therapy with routine revascularization is associated with improved outcomes. However, the role of routine revascularization in stable ischemic heart disease, in addition to medical therapy, remains a matter of debate. Read More

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2019 Mar 7. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Attending Physician, Interventional Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Banner University Medical Center-Phoenix, Arizona 85006, USA. Electronic address:

Introduction: Acute decompensated heart failure is a known complication following orthotopic liver transplant. Among those, there are some cases of takostubo type cardiomyopathy (TC), commonly referred to as "broken heart syndrome". While the exact mechanism of TC is unknown, it frequently proceeds a physical or emotional stressor. Read More

J Clin Sleep Med 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Study Objectives: Investigation into sleep and coronary heart disease (CHD) has predominantly been focused on sleep disturbances as a risk factor for developing CHD. Objectively measured and self-reported sleep at a patient level has only been sparsely and not systematically reported. Therefore, we set out to review the literature for studies using objectively measured and self-reported sleep in patients with CHD. Read More

Ann Rehabil Med 2019 Feb 28;43(1):119. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.

Am J Cardiol 2019 Feb 22. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology), College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Pretreatment with statins is associated with improved outcomes in severe sepsis, acute coronary syndrome, and stroke. Patients with cardiac arrest experience sepsis-like syndrome and ischemia reperfusion injuries in the heart and brain. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of statin use before cardiac arrest on outcomes in cardiac arrest patients. Read More

Biosens Bioelectron 2019 Feb 19;131:287-298. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, ISEN, Univ. Valenciennes, UMR 8520-IEMN, F-59000 Lille, France. Electronic address:

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of death within industrialized nations as well as an increasing cause of mortality and morbidity in many developing countries. Smoking, alcohol consumption and increased level of blood cholesterol are the main CVD risk factors. Other factors, such as the prevalence of overweight/obesity and diabetes, have increased considerably in recent decades and are indirect causes of CVD. Read More