International journal of cardiology
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This study aimed to examine the influence of history of heart failure (HF) on circulating levels, diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients presenting with all cause dyspnea at the emergency department. ⋯ In patients with history of HF, BNP levels retain diagnostic accuracy. Ability to predict one-year mortality was decreased in unselected patients, but not in patients with acute HF-induced dyspnea.
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Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) may play an important role in inflammatory processes and endothelial activation. Extracellular newly identified RAGE binding protein (EN-RAGE), natural pro-inflammatory ligand for RAGE. The role of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a mediator in inflammation and atherosclerosis is the subject of recent investigations worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the effect of CRP on RAGE and EN-RAGE gene expression in THP-1 monocytic cell line. MAP kinases (ERK, p38 and JNK) were exploited as possible signaling pathways involved in the signal transduction by CRP. Further, atorvastatin was used as a therapeutic modality for modulation of these genes in the presence of CRP. ⋯ Our data strongly suggests that blockade of RAGE-EN-RAGE by statins at an early stage may prevent inflammation in atherosclerosis and counteract the harmful effects mediated by CRP.
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This paper studies the Galenic views on syncope. According to Galen, syncope is a sudden prostration of the vital powers, without suspension of the respiration and it is usually a sign or complication of fever. ⋯ Numerous authors before and after Galen treated the subject of the famous "cardiac affection": Hippocrates (4th-5th century BC), Asclepiades (2nd-1st century BC), Celsus (1st century AD), Aretaeus (2nd century AD), Soranus of Ephesus (2nd century AD), and Caelius Aurelianus (5th century AD) all see cardiac syncope as a distinct disease. Based on the Galenic descriptions, several modern medical conditions may be identified, such as congestive heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, congenital long QT syndrome or anomalies of the coronary arteries.
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Letter Case Reports
Insights of prognostication of Davies disease: what could we learn from serial magnetic resonance imaging studies?
Davies disease (Hypereosinophilic syndrome with endomyocardial fibrosis) has been increasingly recognized with the availability of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). The reported features identified include the thickened left ventricular (LV) apex and the presence of endomyocardial fibrosis and thrombus. However, CMR allows serial noninvasive monitoring of the disease progression and the treatment response that in our case lines parallel with the clinical condition. The extension of myocardial fibrosis also has a potential role in prognostication of myocardial functional recovery.
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Letter Case Reports
Recurrent acute myocardial infarction and Kounis syndrome.
Kounis syndrome is the concurrence of acute coronary syndromes with conditions associated with mast cell activation including allergic or hypersensitivity and anaphylactic or anaphylactoid insults. We present a case of recurrent acute myocardial infarction associated with an allergic reaction in an 83-year-old Italian woman.