International journal of cardiology
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Multicenter Study
Elevations in neutrophils with obstructive sleep apnea: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) associates with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Immune abnormalities and surges in sympathetic activity accompany OSA and CVD. We hypothesized that OSA associates with leukocytosis partially by abnormalities in autonomic nervous system (ANS) function that would suggest a pathway linking OSA and CVD. ⋯ In the MESA cohort, OSA measures associate with elevated neutrophil counts and increases in overnight mean HR. These data link innate immune dysregulation with OSA and provide a potential pathophysiologic pathway between CVD and OSA.
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Kommerell's diverticulum is a complex congenital malformation of aorta. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an innovative manufacturing process that allows computer-assisted conversion of 3D imaging data into physical "printouts." The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and impact of using patient-specific 3D-printed cardiac prototypes derived from computed tomography data on surgical decision-making and preoperative planning for Kommerell's diverticulum. ⋯ 3D printed models can improve the understanding of anatomy and allow anticipation of surgical technique challenges, which could radically assist surgical planning, and safe execution of surgery for Kommerell's diverticulum. The combination of 3D printing technique and surgical procedure is a promising perspective for treatment of complex aortic malformation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Atorvastatin combined with ticagrelor prevent ischemia-reperfusion induced vascular endothelial dysfunction in healthy young males - A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study.
Atorvastatin and ticagrelor have been shown to prevent against tissue injury in animals. It is unclear if these beneficial effects are also detectable in humans. We studied the effect of high-dose atorvastatin combined with ticagrelor loading on endothelial dysfunction in a model of forearm vascular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. ⋯ URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02910778.