ISSN:0009-7322    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2000

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0009-7322    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2000

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0009-7322    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2000

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundOxidation of LDL plays a role in endothelial dysfunction. Paraoxonase, an enzyme present on HDL, protects LDL against oxidation. Paraoxonase activity is genetically determined in part, and 3 genotypes have been described with variable enzymatic activity. We hypothesized that the paraoxonase polymorphism might influence endothelial function.Methods and ResultsTwenty-seven patients with clinical manifestations of coronary artery disease underwent provocative testing by intracoronary administration of serotonin. None of the coronary arteries studied had significant (>50%) stenosis. Ten patients had the QQ genotype and 17 had the QR genotype. At proximal segments, the mean percentage reduction in lumen diameter in response to serotonin was greater in QQ patients than in QR patients (10−5mol/L:P<0.05; 10−4mol/L:P<0.006). Similarly, at distal segments, constriction in response to serotonin was greater in QQ patients than in QR patients (10−6mol/L:P<0.03; 10−5mol/L:P<0.07).ConclusionsThese results suggest a higher synthesis or release of endothelium-derived relaxing factors to counteract the vasoconstrictor effect of serotonin in patients with the R allele. These findings provide evidence that the paraoxonase polymorphism may play a role in the regulation of coronary vasomotor tone.

ISSN:0009-7322    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2000

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have demonstrated that hyperfibrinogenemia is an independent risk factor for cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We studied whether hyperfibrinogenemia could modify the histological composition of atherosclerotic plaque and precipitate carotid thrombosis resulting from rupture of the plaque.Methods and ResultsWe studied the histological composition of 71 carotid atherosclerotic plaques from patients who had undergone surgical endarterectomy after a first episode of transient ischemic attack. Patients were divided into 3 groups corresponding to the tertiles of plasma fibrinogen values. Hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking habit were also assessed. At the histological analysis, plaques of patients in the highest tertile of fibrinogen (>407 mg/dL) were characterized by a high incidence of thrombosis (66.7% of cases) compared with plaques of subjects in the lower (21.7%) (P=0.002) and middle (29.2%) (P=0.009) tertiles. Plaque rupture was significantly associated with high fibrinogen levels (54.2%,P=0.003). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that hyperfibrinogenemia was an independent risk factor for a decrease in cap thickness (P=0.0005), macrophage foam cell infiltration of the cap (P=0.003), and thrombosis (P=0.003). When the presence of other risk factors was accounted for, hyperfibrinogenemia remained an independent predictor of carotid thrombosis with an odds ratio of 5.83, compared with other risk factors.ConclusionsThe results of the present study add to the evidence that hyperfibrinogenemia, independently of other risk factors, is associated with a specific histological composition of carotid atherosclerotic plaques that predisposes them to rupture and thrombosis.

ISSN:0009-7322    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2000

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundPlatelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonists prevent the composite end point of death or myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with acute coronary syndromes. There is uncertainty about whether this effect is confined to patients who have percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) and whether PCIs further prevent death or MI in patients already treated with GP IIb/IIIa antagonists.Methods and ResultsPURSUIT patients were treated with the GP IIb/IIIa antagonist eptifibatide or placebo; PCIs were performed according to physician practices. In 2253 of 9641 patients (23.4%), PCI was performed by 30 days. Early (<72 hours) PCI was performed in 1228 (12.7%). In 34 placebo patients (5.5%) and 10 treated with eptifibatide (1.7%) (P=0.001), MI preceded early PCI. In patients censored for PCI across the 30-day period, there was a significant reduction in the primary composite end point in eptifibatide patients (P=0.035). Eptifibatide reduced 30-day events in patients who had early PCI (11.6% versus 16.7%,P=0.01) and in patients who did not (14.6% versus 15.6%,P=0.23). After adjustment for PCI propensity, there was no evidence that eptifibatide treatment effect differed between patients with or without early PCI (Pfor interaction=0.634). PCI was not associated with a reduction of the primary composite end point but was associated with a reduced (nonspecified) composite of death or Q-wave MI. This association disappeared after adjustment for propensity for early PCI.ConclusionsEptifibatide reduced the composite rates of death or MI in PCI patients and those managed conservatively.

ISSN:0009-7322    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2000

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundCalcium antagonists have proved disappointing in long-term congestive heart failure (CHF) studies. Mibefradil, a new calcium antagonist that selectively blocks T-type calcium channels, has been shown to be an effective antihypertensive, antianginal, and anti-ischemic agent, and because of its different mechanism of action, it may be beneficial as adjunct therapy in CHF patients.Methods and ResultsThis multicenter, randomized, double-blind study compared mibefradil with placebo as adjunct to usual therapy in 2590 CHF patients (NYHA class II to IV; left ventricular fraction <35%). The initial 50-mg daily dose of mibefradil was uptitrated to 100 mg after 1 month and continued up to 3 years. Patients were monitored at 1 week; 1, 2, and 3 months; and every 3 months thereafter. All-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular morbidity/mortality were analyzed by use of the log-rank test (&agr;=0.05). Substudies included exercise tolerance, plasma hormone and cytokines, echocardiography, and quality of life. Total mortality was similar between mibefradil- and placebo-treated patients (P=0.151). The 14% increased risk of mortality with mibefradil in the first 3 months was not statistically significant (P=0.093). Treatment groups had similar cardiovascular mortality (P=0.246), cardiovascular morbidity/mortality (P=0.783), and reasons for death or hospitalization. Patients comedicated with mibefradil and antiarrhythmics (class I or III), including amiodarone, had a significantly increased risk of death. Substudies demonstrated no significant differences between treatments.ConclusionsWhen used as adjunct therapy, mibefradil did not affect the usual outcome of CHF. The potential interaction with antiarrhythmic drugs, especially amiodarone, and drugs associated with torsade de pointes may have contributed to poor outcomes early in the study.

ISSN:0009-7322    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2000

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundFluid energy loss across stenotic aortic valves is influenced by factors other than the valve effective orifice area (EOA). We propose a new index that will provide a more accurate estimate of this energy loss.Methods and ResultsAn experimental model was designed to measure EOA and energy loss in 2 fixed stenoses and 7 bioprosthetic valves for different flow rates and 2 different aortic sizes (25 and 38 mm). The results showed that the relationship between EOA and energy loss is influenced by both flow rate and aortic cross-sectional area (AA) and that the energy loss is systematically higher (15±2%) in the large aorta. The coefficient (EOA×AA)/(AA−EOA) accurately predicted the energy loss in all situations (r2=0.98). This coefficient is more closely related to the increase in left ventricular workload than EOA. To account for varying flow rates, the coefficient was indexed for body surface area in a retrospective study of 138 patients with moderate or severe aortic stenosis. The energy loss index measured by Doppler echocardiography was superior to the EOA in predicting the end points, which were defined as death or aortic valve replacement. An energy loss index ≤0.52 cm2/m2was the best predictor of adverse outcomes (positive predictive value of 67%).ConclusionsThis new energy loss index has the potential to reflect the severity of aortic stenosis better than EOA. Further prospective studies are necessary to establish the relevance of this index in terms of clinical outcomes.

ISSN:0009-7322    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2000

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundRadiofrequency (RF) ablation of common flutter requires the creation of a complete ablation line to produce bidirectional conduction block in the cavotricuspid isthmus. An irrigated-tip ablation catheter has been shown to be effective in patients in whom conventional ablation has failed. This randomized study compares the efficacy and safety of this catheter with those of a conventional catheter for de novo flutter ablation.Methods and ResultsCavotricuspid ablation was performed with a conventional (n=26) or an irrigated-tip catheter (n=24). RF was applied for 60 minutes with a temperature-controlled mode: 65°C to 70°C up to 70 W with a conventional catheter or 50°C up to 50 W (with a 17-mL/min saline flow rate) with the irrigated-tip catheter. The end point was the achievement of bidirectional isthmus block, and a crossover was performed after 21 unsuccessful applications. Procedural ablation parameters as well as number of applications, x-ray exposure, procedure duration, impedance rise, and clot formation were compared for each group. A coronary angiogram was performed before and after each ablation for the first 30 patients. Complete bidirectional isthmus block was achieved for all patients. Four patients crossed over from conventional to irrigated-tip catheters. The number of applications, procedure duration, and x-ray exposure were significantly higher with the conventional than with the irrigated-tip catheter: 13±10 versus 5±3 pulses, 53±41 versus 27±16 minutes, and 18±14 versus 9±6 minutes, respectively. No significant side effects occurred, and the coronary angiograms of the first 30 patients after ablation were unchanged.ConclusionsIrrigated-tip catheters were found to be more effective than and as safe as conventional catheters for flutter ablation, facilitating the rapid achievement of bidirectional isthmus block.

ISSN:0009-7322    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2000

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundNeurally mediated syncope has been associated with increased left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening (FS) during tilt testing, which is consistent with the hypothesis that the stimulation of LV mechanoreceptors leads to reflex hypotension and/or bradycardia. However, FS does not represent true LV contractility because of its dependence on afterload and preload.Methods and ResultsTo elucidate the role of increased contractility in the mediation of neurally mediated syncope, we compared echocardiographic measures of LV performance corrected for end-systolic stress (ESS) in 21 patients (13 women and 8 men) with unexplained syncope who had either positive (n=10) or negative (n=11) responses to a tilt-table test. Two-dimensional echocardiographic LV imaging was performed at baseline and during the initial 5 minutes of upright tilt. In the supine position, both groups had similar LV end-diastolic volume indexes, stroke volumes, FS, circumferential ESS, and afterload-independent measures of LV performance (stress-corrected midwall and FS). However, after 5 minutes of upright tilt, patients who subsequently had a positive test had a lower stroke volume, lower stress-corrected midwall shortening, and endocardial FS. The tilt-positive group also had a greater fall in ESS and FS early during upright tilt.ConclusionsReduced ESS, LV volume, and chamber function during initial upright tilt are associated with a subsequent positive tilt response in patients with unexplained syncope. These data suggest that if paradoxic activation of LV mechanoreceptors has a role in mediating neurally mediated syncope, it is not triggered by LV hypercontractility or increased systolic wall stress during the initial period of upright tilt.

ISSN:0009-7322    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2000

数据来源: OVID