Heart : official journal of the British Cardiac Society
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Comparative Study
Impaired endothelial function in persons with obstructive sleep apnoea: impact of obesity.
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and obesity are both associated with endothelial dysfunction, which precedes the development of atherosclerosis. As obesity is highly prevalent in OSA, we wanted to test the hypothesis that OSA is associated with endothelial dysfunction independently of obesity. ⋯ OSA is associated with endothelial dysfunction independently of obesity and conventional risk factors.
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Comparative Study
Acute exacerbation of COPD is associated with fourfold elevation of cardiac troponin T.
To investigate if acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is associated with myocardial injury, expressed as elevated high sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), and to identify determinants of hs-cTnT in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. ⋯ AECOPD is associated with higher hs-cTnT as compared with stable COPD. In stable COPD, hs-cTnT appears to be positively associated with indices of COPD severity, whereas we were unable to identify significant determinants of hs-cTnT in AECOPD.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Aspirin plus clopidogrel for optimal platelet inhibition following off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: results from the CRYSSA (prevention of Coronary arteRY bypaSS occlusion After off-pump procedures) randomised study.
To determine the individual variability in the response to aspirin and/or clopidogrel and its impact on graft patency after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. ⋯ Combined clopidogrel and aspirin overcome single drug resistances, are safe for bleeding and improve venous graft patency.
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Comparative Study
Aortopathy and bicuspid aortic valve: haemodynamic burden is main contributor to aortic dilatation.
To evaluate factors associated with aortic enlargement in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and the impact of isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR). ⋯ Age-dependent aortic enlargement associated with significant valvular dysfunction and the protective effects of isolated AVR in patients with BAV indicate that valvular dysfunction is a major determinant to the development of aortopathy.
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Comparative Study
Symptom onset-to-balloon time and mortality in the first seven years after STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
To evaluate the consequence of treatment delay of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) on long-term survival. ⋯ Shorter symptom onset-to-balloon time predicts long-term lower mortality in STEMI patients treated with PPCI. Our findings emphasise the need to minimise any component of treatment delay.