All Articles

Ulrich Julius^1*

^*1Lipidology and Center for Extracorporeal Treatment, Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technische Universität Dresden, Germany

Ping-Shuan Dong^1*, Jing-Jing Jia¹, Lai-Jing Du¹

^*1Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China

Various forms of interventional programs have been suggested to help reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about the effects of physician-based interventional program on the long-term disease prognoses of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A number of studies have demonstrated the intensive secondary prevention provide effective risk factor reduction in coronary artery disease patients, while few studies focused on important cardiovascular outcomes and long-term clinical prognoses. This study is the first prospective randomized controlled study to demonstrate the impact of professional physician-coordinated intensive follow-up on the long-time prognosis of PCI in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients in China. We have shown that this intensive follow-up program robustly prolongs the survival time and reduces the controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease control of cardiovascular risk factors, thereby markedly improve the prognosis of PCI in ACS patients. The study was the first to demonstrate the cost-effect benefit of intensive secondary prevention in ACS patients in Chinese populations, and this benefit was long-term.

Mohsin Khan D.O.^1*, Mitchell S. Karl¹, Ashwin Durairaj¹, and Antonello Santini²

^*1Florida Atlantic University, Schmidt School of Medicine, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, United States

²Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy

Martina Mason*, Ian Smith

Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Papworth Everard, Cambridge, CB23 3RE, UK

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common and high prevalence has been described amongst patients undergoing cardiac revascularisation surgery. An excess of postoperative complications has been reported in patients with untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) following surgical procedures, including those undergoing cardiac surgery. This has led some clinicians towards pre-operative screening for OSA though the best screening methodology has not yet been established. Moreover, the effect of screening and of treatment for OSA on surgical outcomes remains unknown. Does current evidence justify screening and treating patients before they present for surgery? Is this leading to potential delay in surgery whilst awaiting sleep diagnostics and commencing the treatment? This review article will examine the available evidence base and endeavour to answer these questions and identify implications for future research.

Alexandar A. Iliev^1*, Georgi N. Kotov¹, Iva N. Dimitrova² and Boycho V. Landzhov¹

¹Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria

²Department of Cardiology, University Hospital ‘St. Ekaterina’, Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria

Introduction: Spontaneously hypertensive rats are often used as a model of arterial hypertension in humans. Cardiomyocytic hypertrophy, focal myocytolysis and ventricular fibrosis are only a part of the alterations in the morphology of the myocardium observed in spontaneously hypertensive rats with the progression of hypertension. The present manuscript reviews our studies on spontaneously hypertensive rats, with focus on the microscopic changes in the myocardial architectonics and analysis of several morphometric parameters.

Materials and methods: A total of 12 male spontaneously hypertensive rats, distributed in two age groups, each containing six animals: 1-month-old (young) and 6-months-old (adult) were used. We also used 12 male normotensive Wistar rats, distributed in two age groups, each containing six animals: 1-month-old (young) and 6-months-old (adult). Routine haematoxylin and eosin staining and Mallory’s trichrome stain were conducted. Quantitative data were obtained with a computerized system for image analysis NIS-Elements Advanced Research (Ver. 2.30).

Results: Changes in the normal morphology of the myocardium included cardiomyocytic hypertrophy, focal myocytolysis and ventricular fibrosis. As aging progressed, we noted a significant increase in the thickness of the free wall and cross-sectional area of the cardiomyocytes and the cardiomyocytic nuclei and a decrease in cardiomyocytic density.

Conclusion: The manuscript presents a detailed qualitative and quantitative study of changes in the normal structure of the myocardium initiated by arterial hypertension.

Federico Paredes Vignoli*

Awad Magbri, Eusera El-Magbri, Mariam El-Magbri, Brar Balhinder and Shauket Rashid

Nausica Català Tella^1*, Catalina Serna Arnaiz¹, Jordi Real Gatius^2,3, Oriol Yuguero Torres⁴ and Leonardo Galván Santiago⁵

Martin Rosas-Peralta¹, Gabriela Borrayo-Sánchez², Erick Ramirez Arias³, Janaí Santiago-López⁴, Eduardo Almeida-Gutiérrez⁵,  Jose de Jesús Arriaga-Dávila⁶

Gabriela Borrayo-Sánchez¹, Martin Rosas-Peralta^2*, Erick Ramirez Arias³, Janaí Santiago-López⁴, Eduardo Almeida-Gutiérrez⁵, Hector David Martínez-Chapa⁶, Jose de Jesús Arriaga-Dávila⁷

¹Head of Evaluation and Accountability Division for Medical Care, CUMAE-IMSS, Mexico

²Head of Special Projects Area, Coordination of High Specialty Units, CUMAE-IMSS, Mexico

³Head of Emergency Room, Hospital of Cardiology of the National Medical Center, XXI Century, IMSS, Mexico

⁴Special Projects Area, CUMAE-IMSS, Mexico

⁵Titular of the Directorate of Education and Research in Health of the Hospital of Cardiology of the National Medical Center XXI century, IMSS, Mexico

⁶Titular of Medical Attention Unit, IMSS, Mexico

⁷Head of Medical Benefits of IMSS, Mexico