International journal of cardiology
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Letter Case Reports
Treatment failure of low molecular weight heparin bridging therapy before a cardiac surgery intervention in a patient with atrial fibrillation.
From time to time, it may be necessary to interrupt oral anticoagulant therapy in preparation for surgical procedures. In high-risk patients or for longer periods, unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin bridging treatment has been reported safe. This case focuses attention on treatment failure of low molecular weight heparin bridging therapy in a patient with atrial fibrillation.
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The small peptide urocortin (Ucn) has the ability to protect the heart by reducing cardiac cell loss during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, and improving post-ischemic cardiac performance. Although its mechanism of action is not clearly defined, investigations have revealed that Ucn acts through several kinase pathways, and modulates a group of genes which synergistically minimize mitochondrial damage. ⋯ Serum Ucn levels may be clinically useful to diagnose cases of mild sub-lethal ischemia, lacking elevation of cardiac enzymes and electrocardiogram changes. Infusion of Ucn may also help reduce the extent of the iatrogenic ischemic/reperfusion injury, associated with cardioplegic arrest.
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Kounis syndrome is the coincidental occurrence of acute coronary syndromes with allergic or hypersensitivity reactions. Clinicians should be aware that various mediators of allergy can cause coronary spasm and even plaque rupture and thrombus formation, thereby causing a serious impact on the course, prognosis and management of the allergic reaction. We report a case of a 20 year old female who developed acute coronary syndrome after anaphylactic reaction to ibuprofen.
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Letter Case Reports
'Lone' atrial fibrillation precipitated by monosodium glutamate and aspartame.
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Letter Case Reports
Negative pressure pulmonary edema complicating an electrophysiological study.
We report on a case of acute non-cardiogenic negative-pressure pulmonary edema developed during an ablation procedure of an accessory pathway in a patient with no structural heart disease. That potentially serious complication has not been previously reported during an interventional cardiology procedure.