0000000000261927
AUTHOR
Sarah Mangiafico
Percutaneous closure of left atrial appendage to prevent embolic events in high-risk patients with chronic atrial fibrillation
Background: Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is a novel alternative for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and with a high risk of stroke who are not eligible for long-term anticoagulation therapy. The aim of this study was to asses the safety, feasibility, and long-term efficacy of this procedure. Methods: From July 2004 to June 2007, 20 patients (13 male, mean age 69 ± 8 years) with non–valvular AF (NV-AF) underwent LAA percutaneous closure using the PLAATO™ system, implanted through a transeptal access. All patients had contraindications to anticoagulant therapy and were at high risk for cardioembolic stroke (mean CHADS2 score 3 ± 1.2). A trans…
Complete versus incomplete revascularization in patients with multivessel disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents.
Objectives: To investigate the long-term prognostic implications of complete versus incomplete revascularization in multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES). Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with MVD provides better outcomes when complete revascularization is achieved. There is a paucity of data on the outcomes of complete versus incomplete revascularization of MVD patients undergoing PCI, and currently there is no data available with DES. Methods: Patients with MVD undergoing PCI with DES (sirolimus- or paclitaxel-eluting stent) were included. Comparisons of long-term o…
Human Hypertension Is Characterized by a Lack of Activation of the Antihypertensive Cardiac Hormones ANP and BNP
ObjectivesThis study sought to investigate plasma levels of circulating cardiac natriuretic peptides, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type or brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), in the general community, focusing on their relative differences in worsening human hypertension.BackgroundAlthough ANP and BNP are well-characterized regulators of blood pressure in humans, little is known at the population level about their relationship with hypertension. The authors hypothesized that hypertension is associated with a lack of activation of these hormones or their molecular precursors.MethodsThe study cohort (N = 2,082, age >45 years) was derived from a random sample from Rochester, Minnesota, …