Clinical cardiology
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Clinical cardiology · Jun 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyNatriuretic and neurohormonal responses to nesiritide, furosemide, and combined nesiritide and furosemide in patients with stable systolic dysfunction.
In patients with heart failure, few data describe the neurohormonal response to nesiritide and furosemide either alone or in combination. This study systematically compared the effects of nesiritide, furosemide, and their combination on natriuresis/diuresis and plasma aldosterone in patients with chronic stable heart failure who were relatively diuretic resistant. ⋯ Furosemide alone produced natriuresis/diuresis and a prompt rise in plasma aldosterone values. Nesiritide alone produced no significant natriuresis/diuresis, but decreased plasma aldosterone values. When furosemide was administered on a background of nesiritide infusion, the observed natriuresis/diuresis was similar to that seen with furosemide alone, without the anticipated increase in plasma aldosterone observed with furosemide alone.
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Clinical cardiology · Jun 2010
Multicenter StudyThe causes and outcomes of inadequate implementation of existing guidelines for antiplatelet treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome: the experience from Taiwan Acute Coronary Syndrome Descriptive Registry (T-ACCORD Registry).
Benefits of antiplatelet agents in preventing future cardiovascular events have been well established. However, the prescription pattern of antiplatelet usage in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is rarely investigated. Hence, Taiwan ACute CORonary Syndrome Descriptive Registry (T-ACCORD Registry) aimed to evaluate medical practices in Taiwan in managing ACS patients. ⋯ Our registry showed that underlying medical conditions may affect antiplatelet prescriptions at discharge. During the first year following an ACS episode, the prescription rate of dual antiplatelet therapy declined over time, mainly due to physician's judgment leading to the discontinuation of clopidogrel. Adherence to dual antiplatelet treatment was associated with lower total mortality at 1 year.
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Clinical cardiology · Jun 2010
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyComparison of traditional risk factors, angiographic findings, and in-hospital mortality between smoking and nonsmoking Turkish men and women with acute myocardial infarction.
The prevalence of smoking is high in Turkey. However, there are no data available evaluating the differences between smokers and nonsmokers according to their sex in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Turkey. ⋯ Smoking, by decreasing the age of first AMI in women, offsets the age difference in first AMI between men and women. The mean age of first AMI is lower in Turkey than most European countries due to a high percentage of smoking.