Editorial Commentary: Treatment of Refractory Angina: An Ongoing Challenge
The term refractory angina implies that the episodes of angina are recurrent and incapacitating despite conventional treatment [1]. It is also assumed that anemia, thyrotoxicosis, arrhythmias, uncontrolled hypertension, and other comorbid conditions that may aggravate angina and myocardial ischemia are absent or, if present, are adequately treated before labeling the patient as having refractory angina [1]. Patients with refractory angina remain symptomatic despite treatment with antianginal drugs and their coronary artery disease is unsuitable for revascularization [1]. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 12, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Udho Thadani Source Type: research
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD): The underdiagnosed cardiac condition that plagues women
Coronary heart disease (CHD) continues to be understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated in women. Gender and age bias complicate the evaluation of women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). As a result, conditions like spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) are often missed. SCAD is an infrequent yet important cause of myocardial infarction (MI) with a predilection for young to middle aged women. The condition is thought to be under-reported, likely a result of both low index of suspicion as well as an unfamiliarity with SCAD ’s angiographic variants. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 11, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Sandrine Lebrun, Rachel M. Bond Source Type: research
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD): The Underdiagnosed Cardiac Condition that Plagues Women
Coronary heart disease (CHD) continues to be understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated in women. Gender and age bias complicate the evaluation of women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). As a result, conditions like Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) are often missed. SCAD is an infrequent yet important cause of myocardial infarction (MI) with a predilection for young to middle aged women. The condition is thought to be under-reported, likely a result of both low index of suspicion as well as an unfamiliarity with SCAD's angiographic variants. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 11, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Sandrine Lebrun, Rachel M. Bond Source Type: research
Editorial commentary: Mathematical modeling as a tool to elucidate fundamental principles in cardiac electrophysiology
Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte imbalance that may affect as many as 20% of hospitalized patients [1,2]. Clinical hypokalemia is defined as a serum K+ concentration lower than 3.5mM, and is classified as mild (3 –3.5mM), moderate (2.5–3mM), and severe ( (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 7, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Amara Greer-Short, Thomas J. Hund Source Type: research
Editorial commentary: Targeting TYMP for cardiovascular disease: How far are we?
The metabolism of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, involves their synthesis and degradation through chemical modifications of their constitutive units, the nucleotides. Nucleotide synthesis generally involves chemical reactions that add a phosphate, pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base or nucleobase, while their degradation may involve the disassembly of the nucleotide to recycle its parts, or its modification to be transformed into another molecule. Both synthesis and degradation require separate enzymes to perform the chemical reactions, and each enzyme may have very restricted targets and operate in specific cell ty...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 7, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Matteo Vatta Source Type: research
Mathematical modeling as a tool to elucidate fundamental principles in cardiac electrophysiology
Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte imbalance that may affect as many as 20% of hospitalized patients.1,2 Clinical hypokalemia is defined as a serum K+ concentration lower than 3.5mM, and is classified as mild (3 – 3.5mM), moderate (2.5 – 3mM) and severe ( (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 7, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Amara Greer-Short, Thomas J. Hund Source Type: research
Targeting TYMP for cardiovascular disease: How far are we?
The metabolism of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, involves their synthesis and degradation through chemical modifications of their constitutive units, the nucleotides. Nucleotide synthesis generally involves chemical reactions that add a phosphate, pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base or nucleobase, while their degradation may involve the disassembly of the nucleotide to recycle its parts, or its modification to be transformed into another molecule. Both synthesis and degradation require separate enzymes to perform the chemical reactions, and each enzyme may have very restricted targets and operate in specific cell ty...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 7, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Matteo Vatta Source Type: research
MY APPROACH to the risk stratification of patients for sudden cardiac death
Sana M. Al-Khatib, MD, MHS (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 5, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Sana M. Al-Khatib Tags: MY APPROACH Source Type: research
Mitochondrial quality control: The role of mitophagy in aging
Autophagy is a catabolic process for eliminating macromolecules and damaged organelles by a highly regulated lysosomal pathway. Importantly, autophagy serves as an integral quality control mechanism by recycling cellular constituents for energy consumption and cellular rejuvenation under basal and stress conditions. Nevertheless, there is growing evidence that under certain conditions autophagy can switch from an adaptive survival mechanism to maladaptive process that promotes cell death. Furthermore, defects in autophagy have been linked to mitochondria injury and cell death associated with aging. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 5, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Ruoyang Shi, Matthew Guberman, Lorrie A. Kirshenbaum Source Type: research
MY APPROACH to the Risk Stratification of Patients for Sudden Cardiac Death
In risk-stratifying patients for sudden cardiac death (SCD), my approach depends on the following factors: (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 5, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Sana M. Al-Khatib Tags: MY APPROACH Source Type: research
Mitochondrial quality control: The role of mitophagy in aging
Autophagy is a catabolic process for eliminating macromolecules and damaged organelles by a highly regulated lysosomal pathway. Importantly, autophagy serves as an integral quality control mechanism by recycling cellular constituents for energy consumption and cellular rejuvenation under basal and stress conditions. Nevertheless, there is growing evidence that under certain conditions autophagy can switch from an adaptive survival mechanism to maladaptive process that promotes cell death. Furthermore, defects in autophagy have been linked to mitochondria injury and cell death associated with aging. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 5, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Ruoyang Shi, Matthew Guberman, Lorrie A. Kirshenbaum Source Type: research
Controversies in Brugada syndrome
The Brugada syndrome is an inherited channelopathy associated with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death, often occurring during sleep or resting conditions. Although this entity has been described more than 20 years ago, it remains one of the most debated among channelopathies, with several open questions on its genetic substrate, arrhythmia mechanisms, and clinical management. Studies on the genetics and physiopathology bases of the Brugada syndrome have opened novel investigative pathways and concepts that are now entering the field of cardiovascular genetics and are applied to other inherited arrhy...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - November 27, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Marina Cerrone Source Type: research
Idiopathic malignant premature ventricular contractions
The presence of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in patients with structurally normal hearts was once considered a benign phenomenon. However, in susceptible patients, these “benign” or idiopathic PVCs may develop malignant potential and trigger ventricular fibrillation and result in sudden cardiac death. Alternatively, idiopathic PVCs can also induce cardiomyopathy. Clinical recognition of these entities can lead to effective targeted therapy. In the first instance , treatment consists of ablating the PVC source and implanting a defibrillator, whereas in the second scenario, ablating the PVC origin can normal...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - November 27, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: James E. Ip, Bruce B. Lerman Source Type: research
Current interpretation of myocardial stunning
Myocardial stunning is a temporary post-ischemic cardiac mechanical dysfunction. As such, it is a heterogeneous entity and different conditions can promote its occurrence. Transient coronary occlusion, increased production of catecholamines and endothelin, and myocardial inflammation are all possible causes of myocardial stunning. Possible underlying mechanisms include an oxyradical hypothesis, calcium overload, decreased responsiveness of myofilaments to calcium, and excitation-contraction uncoupling due to sarcoplasmic reticulum dysfunction. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - November 27, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Andrea Igoren Guaricci, Gabriella Bulzis, Gianluca Pontone, Pietro Scicchitano, Rossella Carbonara, Mark Rabbat, Delia De Santis, Marco Matteo Ciccone Source Type: research
