Circulation
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Selective impairment in sympathetic vasomotor control with norepinephrine transporter inhibition.
Norepinephrine transporter (NET) inhibition increases the responsiveness to vasoactive medications and attenuates the response to sympathetic stimuli. The phenomenon may be a result of impaired regulation of sympathetic vasomotor tone. ⋯ NET inhibition profoundly and selectively reduces baroreflex control of sympathetic vasomotor tone and attenuates the responsiveness to sympathetic stimuli. The reduction in baroreflex buffering increases the sensitivity to vasoactive medications. Therefore, our findings represent a novel mechanism for drug interactions.
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Antithrombotic therapy with intravenous heparin in conjunction with aspirin reduces negative cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes. The need for a therapeutic range with the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) has not been validated in patients with arterial thrombosis who receive heparin. Therefore, it is unclear whether there is an association between recurrent CV events and low APTT values and between bleeding and high APTT values. ⋯ In patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST elevation who are treated with intravenous heparin, our findings justify regular APTT monitoring to minimize recurrent ischemic events and bleeding.
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Common 3D systems have only limited spatial and temporal resolution (frame rate of 25 Hz). Thin structures such as cardiac valves are not imaged exactly; rapid movement patterns cannot be precisely recorded. The objective of the present project was to achieve radiofrequency (RF) data transmission to the 3D workstation to improve image resolution. ⋯ A 3D system based on RF data enables high-resolution imaging of cardiac movement patterns. This offers new perspectives for qualitative and quantitative analyses, especially of cardiac valves.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Combined steroid treatment for congenital heart surgery improves oxygen delivery and reduces postbypass inflammatory mediator expression.
Steroid administration during cardiopulmonary bypass is thought to improve cardiopulmonary function by modulating bypass-related inflammation. This study was designed to compare preoperative and intraoperative methylprednisolone (MP) to intraoperative MP alone with respect to postbypass inflammation and clinical outcome. ⋯ Compared with intraoperative steroid treatment, combined preoperative and intraoperative steroid administration attenuates inflammatory mediator expression more effectively and is associated with improved indexes of O2 delivery in the first 24 hours after congenital heart surgery. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger multicenter trial.