The Canadian journal of cardiology
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Perioperative care for cardiac surgery is undergoing rapid evolution. Many of the changes involve the application of novel technologies to tackle common challenges in optimizing perioperative management. ⋯ These include: the introduction of brain and somatic oximetry; transesophageal echocardiographic hemodynamic monitoring and bedside focused ultrasound; ultrasound-guided vascular access; point-of-care coagulation surveillance; right ventricular pressure monitoring; novel inhaled treatment for right ventricular failure; new approaches for postoperative pain management; novel approaches in specialized care procedures to ensure quality control; and specific approaches to optimize the management for postoperative cardiac arrest. Herein, we discuss the reasons that each of these components are particularly important in improving perioperative care, describe how they can be addressed, and their impact in the care of patients who undergo cardiac surgery.
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Review Meta Analysis
Autologous transplantation of bone marrow/blood-derived cells for chronic ischemic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Studies focused on cell therapy for chronic ischemic heart disease (CIHD) have been published with conflicting results. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of autologous bone marrow/blood-derived cell transplantation in patients with CIHD. ⋯ Current evidence showed that cell therapy moderately improved left ventricle function and significantly decreased all-cause death in patients with CIHD and supports further RCTs with larger sample size and longer follow-up.
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Review Meta Analysis
Stem cell therapy for the treatment of nonischemic cardiomyopathy: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Stem cell (SC) therapy improves left ventricular function and dimensions in ischemic heart disease. Few small-scale trials have studied the effects of SC therapy on nonischemic cardiomyopathy (CMP), the leading cause of heart transplantation in the adults. The objectives were to gain a better insight into the effects of SC therapy for nonischemic CMP by conducting a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. ⋯ This is the first meta-analysis to show that for the treatment of nonischemic CMP, SC therapy might improve LVEF, but not LVEDD. Further trials should aim to circumscribe the optimal SC regimen in this setting, and to assess long-term clinical outcomes as primary end points.
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Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are serious and often fatal diseases. The pathophysiology of both diseases is complex and in part is attributed to alterations in the nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway. ⋯ Based on benefits from clinical trials for both PAH and CTEPH, riociguat was approved by Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration as the first medical therapy for patients with CTEPH who are deemed inoperable or have residual/recurrent PH after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), and as a novel treatment option for patients with PAH. This article reviews the key findings from the phase III trials for riociguat that led to these approvals and the implications this has for the treatment of patients with PAH and CTEPH.
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The past 2 decades have seen a considerable global increase in cardiovascular disease, with hypertension remaining by far the most common. More than one-third of adults in Africa are hypertensive; as in the urban populations of most developing countries. Being a condition that occurs with relatively few symptoms, hypertension remains underdetected in many countries; especially in developing countries where routine screening at any point of health care is grossly underutilized. ⋯ In this review, we discuss the escalating occurrence of hypertension in developing countries, before exploring the strengths and weaknesses of different measures to control hypertension, and the challenges of adopting these measures in developing countries. On a broad level, these include steps to curb the ripple effect of urbanization on the health and disease profile of developing societies, and suggestions to improve loopholes in various aspects of health care delivery that affect surveillance and management of hypertension. Furthermore, we consider how the industrial sectors' contributions toward the burden of hypertension can also be the source of the solution.