International journal of cardiology
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Cardiovascular patients are likely to have an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) due to functional and psycho-social limitations. The main objective of this study was to assess the distribution of HRQoL scores in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients across 22 European countries and to identify factors associated with the variation between patients. ⋯ Overall, a large heterogeneity was observed in HRQoL values between countries and patient groups. There seems to be a significant association between quality of life and patient characteristics with lifestyle risk factors as important determinants of HRQoL.
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Observational Study
Neurofilament light chain as an early and sensitive predictor of long-term neurological outcome in patients after cardiac arrest.
Neurofilament light chain (NF-L) is the major intermediate filament specifically expressed in neurons and their axons. No data are available concerning serum levels of NF-L after global cerebral ischemia due to cardiac arrest. To find a specific neuronal marker of long-term neurological outcome, we examined serum levels of NF-L in patients after cardiac arrest. ⋯ The present data suggest that within 7 days after cardiac arrest serum NF-L is a valuable marker of long-term neurological outcome.
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Observational Study
Prognosis and treatment in patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction on weekends and weekdays from 1997 to 2009.
Less invasive treatment and poorer outcomes have been shown among patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on weekends compared to weekdays. ⋯ No persistent 'weekend-effect' on mortality was present in patients with AMI in 1997-2009. Overall, mortality rates have decreased concomitantly with an increased use of current guideline-recommended invasive and medical therapy.
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To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a rapid heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) test in patients suspected of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in primary care. ⋯ The H-FABP rapid test provides modest additional diagnostic certainty in primary care. It cannot be used to safely exclude rule out ACS. The test can only be used safely in patients otherwise NOT referred to hospital by the GP, as an extra precaution not to miss ACS ('rule in').
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Hyperglycemia-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation contributes to development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a redox-sensing transcription factor, induces the antioxidant enzyme expressions. Diallyl trisulfide (DATS) is the most powerful antioxidant among the sulfur-containing compounds in garlic oil. We investigated whether DATS inhibits hyperglycemia-induced ROS production via Nrf2-mediated activation of antioxidant enzymes in cardiac cells exposed to high glucose (HG). ⋯ Our findings indicate that DATS protects against hyperglycemia-induced ROS-mediated apoptosis by upregulating the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway, which further activates Nrf2-regulated antioxidant enzymes in cardiomyocytes exposed to HG.