International journal of cardiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Longitudinal BNP follow-up as a marker of treatment response in acute heart failure: Relationship with objective markers of decongestion.
Results of studies that examined the value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) reduction as a marker of decongestion have been inconsistent. We investigated whether longitudinal admission-to-discharge BNP reduction can be used to monitor decongestion during acute heart failure (HF). ⋯ Admission-to-discharge BNP reduction is a reasonable marker of treatment response in HF that correlated with clinical and objective markers of decongestion.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Electrocardiographic and blood pressure effects of energy drinks and Panax ginseng in healthy volunteers: A randomized clinical trial.
Energy drink usage has been linked to emergency room visits and deaths. The objective of the study is to assess the electrocardiographic and blood pressure effects of energy drinks, Panax ginseng and placebo in healthy individuals. ⋯ Certain energy drinks consumed at a high volume significantly increase the QTc interval and systolic blood pressure by over 6ms and 4mmHg respectively. Panax ginseng does not have a significant impact on ECG or blood pressure parameters.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Perioperative hyperoxia - Long-term impact on cardiovascular complications after abdominal surgery, a post hoc analysis of the PROXI trial.
Increased long-term mortality was found in patients exposed to perioperative hyperoxia in the PROXI trial, where patients undergoing laparotomy were randomised to 80% versus 30% oxygen during and after surgery. This post hoc follow-up study assessed the impact of perioperative hyperoxia on long-term risk of cardiovascular events. ⋯ Perioperative hyperoxia may be associated with an increased long-term risk of myocardial infarction and other heart disease.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Intake of low sodium salt substitute for 3years attenuates the increase in blood pressure in a rural population of North China - A randomized controlled trial.
Lowering salt intake is one of the successful and cost-effective methods to reduce blood pressure (BP). In this randomized controlled study, we investigated the effects of a 3-year substitution of table salt with a low-sodium salt substitute in a rural population of North China. ⋯ Use of the salt substitute significantly reduces the increase in BP over a long term, and thus, the salt substitute can be used as a replacement for regular salt in the daily diet to prevent/diminish the incidence of hypertension.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of reducing exposure to air pollution on submaximal cardiopulmonary test in patients with heart failure: Analysis of the randomized, double-blind and controlled FILTER-HF trial.
Air pollution exposure could mitigate the health benefits of exercise in patients with heart failure (HF). We tested the effects of a respiratory filter on HF patients exposed to air pollution during exercise. ⋯ DE adversely affects exercise capacity in patients with HF. A simple respiratory filter can reduce the adverse effects of pollution on VO2 and O2Pulse. Given the worldwide prevalence of exposure to traffic-related air pollution, these findings are relevant for public health especially in this highly susceptible population. The filter intervention holds great promise that needs to be tested in future studies.