Diagnosing Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in Women: A Call for Early Coronary Angiography
There is a unique cohort of patients, predominantly women, that experience chest pain or acute coronary syndromes in the absence of significant epicardial coronary artery disease. These individuals present with signs and symptoms consistent with ischemia and undergo a diagnostic evaluation with the objective of identifying atherosclerotic coronary disease as the causal factor. When these studies find no or insignificant ( (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - March 13, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Jane A. Leopold Source Type: research
Palliative Care in Heart Failure: Review
Palliative Care (PC) is now recommended by all major cardiovascular societies for advanced heart failure (HF). PC is a philosophy of care that uses a holistic approach to address physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs in patients with a terminal disease process. In HF, PC has been shown to improve symptoms and quality of life, facilitate advanced care planning, decrease hospital readmissions, and decrease hospital-associated healthcare costs. Although PC is still underutilized in HF, uptake is increasing. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 20, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Katie Wiskar, Mustafa Toma, Barret Rush Source Type: research
Palliative care in heart failure: Review
Palliative Care (PC) is now recommended by all major cardiovascular societies for advanced heart failure (HF). PC is a philosophy of care that uses a holistic approach to address physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs in patients with a terminal disease process. In HF, PC has been shown to improve symptoms and quality of life, facilitate advanced care planning, decrease hospital readmissions, and decrease hospital-associated healthcare costs. Although PC is still underutilized in HF, uptake is increasing. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 20, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Katie Wiskar, Mustafa Toma, Barret Rush Source Type: research
Editorial commentary: Preserving myocardium in muscular dystrophy patients using ACE inhibition
Two of the key therapeutic questions for cardiology practitioners caring for muscular dystrophy patients is the efficacy and timing of initiating cardioprotective medications in this inexorably progressive disease. The article by Russo et al. [1] in this issue is an excellent review of this difficult and clinically important topic. The paper is a comprehensive review of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) therapy in three different muscular dystrophies: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), myotonic dystrophy I, and Emery-Dreyfus muscular dystrophy. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 19, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Michael D. Taylor Source Type: research
The caveats of cardiac imaging in Ebstein anomaly
Ebstein anomaly is a rare but intriguing anomaly comprising a variety of abnormalities predominantly within the right heart with an abnormal tricuspid valve being the most striking feature [1]. The main features of Ebstein anomaly are caused by insufficient delamination of the septal and inferior (posterior) tricuspid valve leaflets from the right ventricular myocardial mass during embryological development of the heart. This leads to abnormal apical displacement of the functional tricuspid valve annulus with various degrees of tricuspid regurgitation. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 19, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Matthias Greutmann, Emanuela R. Valsangiacomo Buechel, Christine Attenhofer Jost Source Type: research
Editorial commentary: Preserving myocardium in muscular dystrophy patients using ACE inhibition
Two of the key therapeutic questions for cardiology practitioners caring for muscular dystrophy patients is the efficacy and timing of initiating cardioprotective medications in this inexorably progressive disease. The article by Russo et al. [1] in this issue is an excellent review of this difficult and clinically important topic. The paper is a comprehensive review of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) therapy in three different muscular dystrophies: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), myotonic dystrophy I, and Emery-Dreyfus muscular dystrophy. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 19, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Michael D. Taylor Source Type: research
Preserving myocardium in muscular dystrophy patients using ACE inhibition
Two of the key therapeutic questions for cardiology practitioners caring for muscular dystrophy patients is the efficacy and timing of initiating cardioprotective medications in this inexorably progressive disease. The article by Russo et. al.[1] is an excellent review of this difficult and clinically important topic. The paper is a comprehensive review of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) therapy in three different muscular dystrophies: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), myotonic dystrophy I, and Emery-Dreyfus muscular dystrophy. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 19, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Michael D. Taylor Source Type: research
The caveats of cardiac imaging in ebstein anomaly
Ebstein anomaly is a rare but intriguing anomaly comprising a variety of abnormalities predominantly within the right heart with an abnormal tricuspid valve being the most striking feature [1]. The main features of Ebstein anomaly are caused by insufficient delamination of the septal and inferior (posterior) tricuspid valve leaflets from the right ventricular myocardial mass during embryological development of the heart. This leads to abnormal apical displacement of the functional tricuspid valve annulus with various degrees of tricuspid regurgitation. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 19, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Matthias Greutmann, Emanuela R. Valsangiacomo Buechel, Christine Attenhofer Jost Source Type: research
Translational overview of cytokine inhibition in acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure
Many cytokines are currently under investigation as potential target to improve cardiac function and outcome in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (MI) or chronic heart failure (HF). Here we aim to provide a translational overview of cytokine inhibiting therapies tested in experimental models and clinical studies. In various experimental studies, inhibition of interleukin-1 (IL-1), -6 (IL-6), -8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), CC- and CXC chemokines, and tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) had beneficial effects on cardiac function and outcome. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 15, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Minke H.T. Hartman, Hilde E. Groot, Irene Mateo Leach, Jacco C. Karper, Pim van der Harst Source Type: research
Editorial commentary: Epigenetics and cardiovascular disease —From concept to reality
The concept of epigenetic regulation of gene expression has been around for decades, and the underlying observations date back more than a century. The specific term has been attributed to Waddington [1]. The basic idea of epigenetics is that gene expression can be influenced by factors other than the genetic sequence. The various elements of epigenetic control include DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA interactions with either DNA or mRNA. Epigenetic alterations have been suggested as responsible for a variety of inherited traits, including altered growth, psychological conditions and other physical...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 15, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: J. Kevin Donahue Source Type: research
Translational overview of cytokine inhibition in acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure
Many cytokines are currently under investigation as potential target to improve cardiac function and outcome in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (MI) or chronic heart failure (HF). Here we aim to provide a translational overview of cytokine inhibiting therapies tested in experimental models and clinical studies. In various experimental studies, inhibition of interleukin-1 (IL-1), -6 (IL-6), -8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), CC- and CXC chemokines, and tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) had beneficial effects on cardiac function and outcome. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 15, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Minke H.T. Hartman, Hilde E. Groot, Irene Mateo Leach, Jacco C. Karper, Pim van der Harst Source Type: research
Epigenetics and cardiovascular disease: from concept to reality
The concept of epigenetic regulation of gene expression has been around for decades, and the underlying observations date back more than a century. The specific term has been attributed to Waddington [1]. The basic idea of epigenetics is that gene expression can be influenced by factors other than the genetic sequence. The various elements of epigenetic control include DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA interactions with either DNA or mRNA. Epigenetic alterations have been suggested as responsible for a variety of inherited traits, including altered growth, psychological conditions and other physical...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 15, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: J. Kevin Donahue Source Type: research
Plant-based diets and cardiovascular health
Plant-based diets, defined in terms of low frequency of animal food consumption, have been increasingly recommended for their health benefits. Numerous studies have found plant-based diets, especially when rich in high quality plant foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts, to be associated with lower risk of cardiovascular outcomes and intermediate risk factors. This review summarizes the current evidence base examining the associations of plant-based diets with cardiovascular endpoints, and discusses the potential biological mechanisms underlying their health effects, practical recommendations and applica...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - February 13, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Ambika Satija, Frank B. Hu Source Type: research
