Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Polymorphisms and Extent of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Chinese Population With Advanced Coronary Artery Disease

American Journal of Hypertension advance online publication, May 20, 2010. doi:10.1038/ajh.2010.104

Authors: Tsung-Hsien Lin, Ho-Ming Su, Chiao-Ling Wang, Wen-Chol Voon, Shyi-Jang Shin, Wen-Ter Lai
& Sheng-Hsiung Sheu

Factor Xa inhibitors, a new class of oral anticoagulants, have been evaluated in the phase II ATLAS ACS-TIMI 46 and APPRAISE trials. Addition of these agents to standard therapy has tended to reduce the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events at the expense of a dose-dependent increase in the risk of bleeding complications.

Factor Xa inhibitors, a new class of oral anticoagulants, have been evaluated in the phase II ATLAS ACS-TIMI 46 and APPRAISE trials. Addition of these agents to standard therapy has tended to reduce the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events at the expense of a dose-dependent increase in the risk of bleeding complications.

Noninvasive imaging of the coronary arteries using multidetector CT (MDCT) represents one of the most promising diagnostic imaging advances in contemporary cardiology. This challenging application has driven a rapid and impressive advancement in CT technology over the past 10 years; leading to increased spatial and

A study comparing stress testing and computed tomography coronary angiography finds CT angiography is most valuable in patients with an intermediate pretest risk of disease, in which it can show which patients should be referred for angiography. Heartwire

Who Needs a Coronary Artery Stent?

A meta-analysis of 10 trials that followed coronary artery calcification progression for at least one year found no consistent or reproducible effect of any therapy on CAC, suggesting CAC is not a good surrogate end point for trials of cardiovascular-disease therapies. Heartwire

Association of Ornithine Transcarbamylase Gene Polymorphisms With Hypertension and Coronary Artery Vasomotion

American Journal of Hypertension advance online publication, July 2, 2009. doi:10.1038/ajh.2009.110

Authors: Julie Dumont, Djabaria Meroufel, Christophe Bauters, Franck Hansmannel, Faïza Bensemain, Dominique Cottel, Martial Hamon, Jean-Charles Lambert, Pierre Ducimetière, Philippe Amouyel, Mahmoud Zureik
& Thierry Brousseau

Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who are admitted to hospitals that have the capacity to perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have better average survival rates than patients admitted to hospitals where PCI is not performed. However, the finding that large differences exist across hospitals

Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who are admitted to hospitals that have the capacity to perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have better average survival rates than patients admitted to hospitals where PCI is not performed. However, the finding that large differences exist across hospitals

Advances in cardiovascular imaging have resulted in the development of multiple noninvasive techniques to evaluate myocardial perfusion and coronary anatomy, each of which has unique strengths and limitations. For example, CT angiography can directly visualize the presence of atherosclerosis, but the hemodynamic effect of many

Advances in cardiovascular imaging have resulted in the development of multiple noninvasive techniques to evaluate myocardial perfusion and coronary anatomy, each of which has unique strengths and limitations. For example, CT angiography can directly visualize the presence of atherosclerosis, but the hemodynamic effect of many

In diagnosis and assessment of coronary artery disease, 256-row CT angiography compares well with invasive coronary angiography, Taiwanese researchers report online March 16th in the European Heart Journal. Reuters Health Information

SPIROCOR is a new noninvasive test for coronary artery disease (CAD). It uses pulse oximetry to measure fingertip blood flow in response to paced breathing at a rate of 6 breaths per minute for 70 seconds. From these data the Respiratory Stress Response (RSR) is calculated as a measure of coronary artery disease. Results from a study of the test are published in this month's American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Patients with significant CAD had a lower RSR compared to patients without, with the test having a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 70%.

Randomized controlled trials of fibrate therapy have yielded variable results. Although these agonists of peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha (PPAR-α) are known to reduce triglyceride levels and increase HDL-cholesterol concentration, they have not been consistently associated with reduced vascular risk. Furthermore, some studies have raised concerns

Lipoprotein(a) has been studied as a risk factor for coronary heart disease, but whether a causal relationship exists has been unclear. A study by Kamstrup and colleagues examining genetically mediated increases in lipoprotein(a) concentration now provides evidence that it could indeed represent a causal coronary risk factor.

Clots derived from a different source--erosions of the arterial wall--may be an important cause of MI and sudden death, particularly in younger women, who may need a different approach to treatment, new research suggests. Heartwire

Evidence-Based Medicine

Listen to the NLM Director's Comments on coronary artery disease care differences. The transcript is also available. Measures of quality of care for coronary artery disease in rural hospitals were similar to urban hospitals in a national study recently published in the American Journal of Cardiology...

Researchers at the EPFL Laboratory of Multiscale Modeling of Materials in Switzerland have developed a flowing 3D model of the coronary arteries. They used the Cadmos supercomputer, with 16,000 microprocessors, to develop an individual specific model with a precision of ten micrometers, which is about the size of a single red blood cell. The model will be used to predict the formation of arteriosclerosis and study its role in myocardial infarction.

From the press release:

Randomized controlled trials of fibrate therapy have yielded variable results. Although these agonists of peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha (PPAR-α) are known to reduce triglyceride levels and increase HDL-cholesterol concentration, they have not been consistently associated with reduced vascular risk. Furthermore, some studies have raised concerns

Diet plays an important part in the maintenance of optimal cardiovascular health. This Review summarizes the evidence for a relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and the occurrence of coronary heart disease. This evidence is based on observational cohort studies, nutrition prevention trials with fruit

Diet plays an important part in the maintenance of optimal cardiovascular health. This Review summarizes the evidence for a relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and the occurrence of coronary heart disease. This evidence is based on observational cohort studies, nutrition prevention trials with fruit

Lipoprotein(a) has been studied as a risk factor for coronary heart disease, but whether a causal relationship exists has been unclear. A study by Kamstrup and colleagues examining genetically mediated increases in lipoprotein(a) concentration now provides evidence that it could indeed represent a causal coronary risk factor.