A randomized, controlled trial of simvastatin versus rosuvastatin in patients with acute myocardial infarction: the Secondary Prevention of Acute Coronary Events–Reduction of Cholesterol to Key European Targets Trial.
Aug 17, 2015
Overview:The debate over the cholesterol hypothesis and statins has raged for decades. The early period following the onset of acute coronary syndrome represents a critical stage of coronary heart disease, with a high risk of recurrent events and deaths. The... more
Predictors of Ascending Aortic Dilation in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease: A Five-year Prospective Study
Jun 03, 2015
Overview:The article focuses on the progression of aortic dilation in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) individuals. The authors prospectively evaluate an asymptomatic cohort of BAV individuals and assess the rate of aortic growth with time. They find a mean annual rate... more
Influence of mitral regurgitation repair on survival in the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) Trial
Jun 18, 2012
Overview:This study assessed the survival impact of functional mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with ischemic heart disease and low ejection fraction (EF<35%). The authors also assessed the impact of adding mitral valve repair (MVrep) at the time of CABG on... more
Testosterone and the Heart
Mar 09, 2021
Overview:Testosterone deficiency (TD) is a well-established and significant medical condition.1,2 It has been defined as a clinical and biochemical syndrome, associated with older age and comorbidities.3 It is characterised by a deficiency in serum androgen levels, with or without reduced genomic sensitivity... more
Guidelines for the Prevention of Stroke in Women. A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
Mar 24, 2014
Overview:Stroke is the third leading cause of death in several industrial countries and occurs in the general context of atherosclerosis. Conventional (sex, age, heredity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and endothelial dysfunction) and non conventional (elevated levels of... more
HRT after MI: adverse events
May 02, 2012
Overview:Discontinuation of hormone replacement therapy after myocardial infarction and short term risk of adverse cardiovascular events: nationwide cohort study Background Guidelines recommend discontinuation of hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) in women diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Discontinuation of HRT can be troublesome... more
Plasma HDL cholesterol and risk of myocardial infarction: a mendelian randomization study
Jun 18, 2012
Overview:The present study sought to assess whether there is a causal relationship between raising HDL and the risk for myocardial infarction (MI). Using a mendelian randomization, the authors found that in patients with genetically higher HDL the risk of MI... more
Typical angina without significant coronary stenosis: comparison of clinical profile, circadian presentation, and long-term follow-up between patients with and patients without vasospastic angina
Aug 07, 2013
Overview:Background The spectrum of patients with chest and no significant coronary stenosis is broad, with a wide range of lumen obstruction (from smooth completely normal coronary arteries to those with lesions <50%) and also including abnormal vasomotion (vasospastic angina-VA, microvascular... more
A LONG-AWAITED LDL LOWERING STUDY USING COMBINATION THERAPY IS PRESENTED BY RESEARCHERS
Dec 03, 2014
Overview:STUDY DESIGN A total of 18,144 patients were randomized in 1:1 blinded fashion either to ezetimibe / simvastatin (n=9,067) or to simvastatin alone (n=9,077). The inclusion criteria were (a) hospitalization for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI), non ST-elevation myocardial infarction or... more
Retraction of the Jikei Heart Study
Oct 21, 2013
Overview:In 2007, the Lancet published the results of the Valsartan in a Japanese population with hypertension and other cardiovascular disease (Jikei Heart Study): a randomised, open-label, blinded endpoint morbidity-mortality study (1). According to the authors, the addition of the angiotensin... more