The “Obesity Paradox” in Coronary Heart Disease
We read with great interest the well-written and well-done study from Israel by Benderly et al from the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention (BIP) database examining the relation of body mass index…
Impact of Baseline Severity of Aortic Valve Stenosis on Effect of Intensive Lipid Lowering Therapy (from the SEAS Study)
Retrospective studies have suggested a beneficial effect of lipid-lowering treatment on the progression of aortic stenosis (AS) in milder stages of the disease. In the randomized, placebo-controlled Simvastatin and Ezetimibe…
Comparison of Muscle Functional Electrical Stimulation to Conventional Bicycle Exercise on Endothelium and Functional Status Indices in Patients With Heart Failure
The aim of this prospective, open-label, cohort study was to compare the effect of muscle functional electrical stimulation (FES) on endothelial function to that of conventional bicycle training. Eligible patients…
Effect of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients With Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Current guidelines have indicated an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for patients with severe idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, for both primary and secondary prevention. Compared to coronary artery disease, the overall benefit has…
Relation of Size of Secondary Ventricles to Exercise Performance in Children After Fontan Operation
The effects of the nondominant or secondary ventricle on the Fontan circulation are not known. The present study used cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the relations between secondary ventricular…
Long-Term Risk of Aortic Events Following Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Valves
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is associated with ascending aortopathy predisposing to aneurysmal dilatation and dissection, even after successful aortic valve replacement (AVR). There is, however, scant evidence on which to…
Tissue Characterization of In-Stent Neointima Using Intravascular Ultrasound Radiofrequency Data Analysis
Using virtual histology and intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS), tissue characterization of restenotic in-stent neointima after drug-eluting stent (DES) and bare metal stent (BMS) implantation was assessed. VH-IVUS was performed in 117…
United States Stock Market Performance and Acute Myocardial Infarction Rates in 2008–2009 (from the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease)
We sought to examine the relation between the United States economic decrease in 2008 and cardiovascular events as measured by local acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rates. Mental stress and traumatic…
Circulating Levels of Endothelial Progenitor Cell Mobilizing Factors in the Metabolic Syndrome
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are an emerging biomarker of vascular health. However, there are few data on the biology and mobilizing factors of EPCs in metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim…
Predictors of Death and Occurrence of Appropriate Implantable Defibrillator Therapies in Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
Most patients with chronic ischemia and an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) for primary prevention do not experience therapies for ventricular arrhythmias on follow-up. The present study aimed to identify independent…
