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- Schlyter, Mona, et al.
(author)
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The impact of personality factors on delay in seeking treatment of acute myocardial infarction
- 2011
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In: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2261. ; 11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Early hospital arrival and rapid intervention for acute myocardial infarction is essential for a successful outcome. Several studies have been unable to identify explanatory factors that slowed decision time. The present study examines whether personality, psychosocial factors, and coping strategies might explain differences in time delay from onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction to arrival at a hospital emergency room. Methods: Questionnaires on coping strategies, personality dimensions, and depression were completed by 323 patients ages 26 to 70 who had suffered an acute myocardial infarction. Tests measuring stress adaptation were completed by 180 of them. The patients were then categorised into three groups, based on time from onset of symptoms until arrival at hospital, and compared using logistic regression analysis and general linear models. Results: No correlation could be established between personality factors (i.e., extraversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness) or depressive symptoms and time between onset of symptoms and arrival at hospital. Nor was there any significant relationship between self-reported patient coping strategies and time delay. Conclusions: We found no significant relationship between personality factors, coping strategies, or depression and time delays in seeking hospital after an acute myocardial infraction.
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- Hellström Ängerud, Karin, 1967-, et al.
(author)
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Longer pre-hospital delay in first myocardial infarction among patients with diabetes : an analysis of 4266 patients in the Northern Sweden MONICA Study
- 2013
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In: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2261 .- 1471-2261. ; 13:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Reperfusion therapy reduces both morbidity and mortality in myocardial infarction, but the effectiveness depends on how fast the patient receives treatment. Despite the time-dependent effectiveness of reperfusion therapy, many patients with myocardial infarction have delays in seeking medical care. The aim of this study was to describe pre-hospital delay in a first myocardial infarction among men and women with and without diabetes and to describe the association between pre-hospital delay time and diabetes, sex, age, symptoms and size of residential area as a proxy for distance to hospital.Methods: This population based study was based on data from 4266 people aged 25-74 years, with a first myocardial infarction registered in the Northern Sweden MONICA myocardial infarction registry between 2000 and 2008.Results: The proportion of patients with delay times >= 2 h was 64% for patients with diabetes and 58% for patients without diabetes. There was no difference in delay time >= 2 h between men and women with diabetes. Diabetes, older age and living in a town or rural areas were factors associated with pre-hospital delay times >= 2 h. Atypical symptoms were not a predictor for pre-hospital delay times >= 2 h, OR 0.59 (0.47; 0.75).Conclusions: A higher proportion of patients with diabetes have longer pre-hospital delay in myocardial infarction than patients without diabetes. There are no differences in pre-hospital delay between men and women with diabetes. The largest risk difference for pre-hospital delay >= 2 h is between women with and without diabetes. Diabetes, older age and living in a town or rural area are predictors for pre-hospital delay >= 2 h.
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- Aburawi, Elhadi, et al.
(author)
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Early changes in myocardial repolarization and coronary perfusion after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery for ASD repair in children
- 2013
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In: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2261. ; 13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: In adults, impaired myocardial repolarization and increased risk of arrhythmia are known consequences of open heart surgery. Little is known, however, about post-operative consequences of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in children. The aim of this study was to assess ventricular repolarization and coronary perfusion after bypass surgery for atrial septal defect (ASD) repair in children. Methods: Twelve patients with ASD were assessed one day before and 5-6 days after ASD repair. Myocardial repolarization (corrected QT interval, QTc, QT dispersion, QTd, and PQ interval) was determined on 12-lead electrocardiograms. Coronary flow in proximal left anterior descending artery (peak flow velocity in diastole, PFVd) was assessed by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. Results: Ten of the 12 (83%) children had normal myocardial repolarization before and after surgery. After surgery, QTc increased 1-9% in 5 (42%) patients, decreased 2-11% in 5 (42%) patients and did not change in 2 (16%) patients. Post-op QTc positively correlated with bypass time (R=0.686, p=0.014) and changes in PFVd (R=0.741, p=0.006). After surgery, QTd increased 33-67% in 4 (33%) patients, decreased 25-50% in 6 patients (50%) and did not change in 2 (16%) patients. After surgery, PQ interval increased 5-30% in 4 (33%) patients, decreased 4-29% in 6 (50%) patients and did not change in 1 (8%) patient. Post-op PQ positively correlated with bypass time (R=0.636, p=0.027). As previously reported, PFVd significantly increased after surgery (p<0.001). Conclusions: Changes in QTc, PQ and PFVd are common in young children undergoing surgery for ASD repair. Post-op QTc significantly correlates with bypass time, suggesting prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass may impair ventricular repolarization. Post-op QTc significantly correlates with PFVd changes, suggesting increased coronary flow may also impair ventricular repolarization. The clinical significance and reversibility of these alternations require further investigations.
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- André-Petersson, Lena, et al.
(author)
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Behavior in a stressful situation, personality factors, and disease severity in patients with acute myocardial infarction: baseline findings from the prospective cohort study SECAMI (The Secondary Prevention and Compliance following Acute Myocardial Infarction-study)
- 2011
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In: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2261. ; 11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Psychosocial stress has been identified as a risk factor in association with cardiovascular disease but less attention has been paid to heterogeneity in vulnerability to stress. The serial Color Word Test (CWT) measures adaptation to a stressful situation and it can be used to identify individuals that are vulnerable to stress. Prospective studies have shown that individuals with a maladaptive behavior in this test are exposed to an increased risk of future cardiovascular events. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether maladaptive behavior in the serial CWT alone or in combination with any specific personality dimension was associated with severity of myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: MI-patients (n = 147) completed the test and filled in a personality questionnaire in close proximity to the acute event. The results were analyzed in association with four indicators of severity: maximum levels above median of the cardiac biomarkers troponin I and creatine kinase-MB (CKMB), Q-wave infarctions, and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <= 50%. Results: Maladaptive behavior in the serial CWT together with low scores on extraversion were associated with maximum levels above median of cardiac troponin I (OR 2.97, CI 1.08-8.20, p = 0.04) and CKMB (OR 3.33, CI 1.12-9.93, p = 0.03). No associations were found between the combination maladaptive behavior and low scores on extraversion and Q-wave infarctions or a decreased LVEF. Conclusions: Maladaptive behavior in combination with low scores on extraversion is associated with higher cardiac biomarker levels following an MI. The serial CWT and personality questionnaires could be used to identify individuals vulnerable to the hazardous effects of stress and thereby are exposed to an increased risk of a more severe infarction.
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- Asciutto, Giuseppe, et al.
(author)
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Treatment with betablockers is associated with higher grey-scale median in carotid plaques
- 2014
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In: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2261. ; 14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The presence of echolucent carotid plaques as defined by low ultrasound grey-scale median (GSM) is associated with a higher risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. Betablockers have shown possible anti-atherosclerotic effects. The aim of the present study was to determine if there is an association between carotid plaque GSM and treatment with betablockers. Methods: The GSM of the carotid plaques of 350 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for asymptomatic (n = 113) or symptomatic (n = 237) carotid disease was measured. Patients were divided in two groups based on the absence/presence of an on-going long-term (i.e. at least 6 months) oral treatment with betablockers at the time of CEA. Results: The prevalence and type of preoperative neurological symptoms were similar in the two groups. Patients with betablockers had more frequently arterial hypertension (P < .0001), diabetes (P = .035) and a higher BMI (P = .0004), while patients without betablockers were most frequently smokers (P = .017). Patients with betablockers revealed to have higher GSM (37.79 +/- 25 vs 32.61 +/- 23.50 P = .036). Echogenic plaques (i.e. with GSM > 30) showed to be more frequent in patients with betablockers also after correction for age, gender, the occurrence of preoperative symptoms, diabetes, hypertension, smoking and statins use (P = .024). Conclusions: These results suggest the use of standardized ultrasound techniques as an important tool in evaluating the effect of anti-atherosclerotic medications and underline the need of. further prospective randomized studies on larger patient cohorts in order to confirm these results.
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- Borné, Yan, et al.
(author)
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Immigrant status and increased risk of heart failure: the role of hypertension and life-style risk factors
- 2012
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In: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2261. ; 12:20
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Studies from Sweden have reported association between immigrant status and incidence of cardiovascular diseases. The nature of this relationship is unclear. We investigated the relationship between immigrant status and risk of heart failure (HF) hospitalization in a population-based cohort, and to what extent this is mediated by hypertension and life-style risk factors. We also explored whether immigrant status was related to case-fatality after HF. Methods: 26,559 subjects without history of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke or HF from the community-based Malmo Diet and Cancer (MDC) cohort underwent a baseline examination during 1991-1996. Incidence of HF hospitalizations was monitored during a mean follow-up of 15 years. Results: 3,129 (11.8%) subjects were born outside Sweden. During follow-up, 764 subjects were hospitalized with HF as primary diagnosis, of whom 166 had an MI before or concurrent with the HF. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the hazard ratios (HR) for foreign-born were 1.37 (95% CI: 1.08-1.73, p = 0.009) compared to native Swedes, for HF without previous MI. The results were similar in a secondary analysis without censoring at incident MI. There was a significant interaction (p < 0.001) between immigrant status and waist circumference (WC), and the increased HF risk was limited to immigrants with high WC. Although not significant foreign-born tended to have lower one-month and one-year mortality after HF. Conclusions: Immigrant status was associated with long-term risk of HF hospitalization, independently of hypertension and several life-style risk factors. A significant interaction between WC and immigrant status on incident HF was observed.
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| 9. |
- Ciornei, Cristina, et al.
(author)
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Human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is present in atherosclerotic plaques and induces death of vascular smooth muscle cells: a laboratory study
- 2006
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In: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2261. ; 6:49
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Death of smooth muscle cells in the atherosclerotic plaques makes the plaques more prone to rupture, which can initiate an acute ischemic event. The development of atherosclerosis includes the migration of immune cells e.g. monocytes/macrophages and T lymphocytes into the lesions. Immune cells can release antimicrobial peptides. One of these, human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide hCAP-18, is cleaved by proteinase 3 generating a 4.5 kDa C-terminal fragment named LL-37, which has been shown to be cytotoxic. The aim of the study was to explore a potential role of LL-37 in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. METHODS: We investigated the presence of LL-37 in human atherosclerotic lesions obtained at autopsy using immunohistochemistry. The direct effects of LL-37 on cultured vascular smooth muscle cells and isolated neutrophil granulocytes were investigated with morphological, biochemical and flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: The neointima of atherosclerotic plaques was found to contain LL-37-like immunoreactivity, mainly in macrophages. In cultured smooth muscle cells, LL-37 at 30 mug/ml caused cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation and an increase in caspase-3 activity as studied by microscopy, ELISA and enzyme activity assay, respectively. Flow cytometry demonstrated that LL-37 in a subset of the cells caused a small but rapidly developing increase in membrane permeability to propidium iodide, followed by a gradual development of FITC-annexin V binding. Another cell population stained heavily with both propidium iodide and FITC-annexin V. Neutrophil granulocytes were resistant to these effects of LL-37. CONCLUSION: This study shows that LL-37 is present in atherosclerotic lesions and that it induces death of vascular smooth muscle cells. In a subset of cells, the changes indicate the development of apoptosis triggered by an initial mild perturbation of plasma membrane integrity. The findings suggest a role for LL-37 as a mediator of immune cell-induced death of vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis.
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| 10. |
- Daka, Bledar, et al.
(author)
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Low sex hormone-binding globulin is associated with hypertension: a cross-sectional study in a Swedish population
- 2013
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In: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2261. ; 13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and hypertension in a Swedish population. Methods: The study is based on a random sample of a Swedish population of men and women aged 30-74 years (n=2,816). Total testosterone, oestradiol and SHBG were measured in 2,782 participants. Free androgen index was then calculated according to the formula FAI=100 x (Total testosterone)/SHBG. Hypertension was diagnosed according to JNC7. Results: In men, but not in women, significant association between SHBG and both diastolic (diastolic blood pressure: beta=-0.143 p<0.001) and systolic blood pressure (systolic blood pressure beta=-0.114 p<0.001) was found. The association was still significant after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides, high density lipoproteins (HDL) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (diastolic blood pressure: beta=-0.113 p<0.001; systolic blood pressure beta=-0.093 p=0.001). An inverse association was observed between SHBG and hypertension in both men (B=-0.024 p<0.001) and women (B=-0.022 p<0.001). The association was still significant in women older than 50 years after adjustments for age, BMI, physical activity, CRP and alcohol consumption (B=-0.014, p=0.008). Conclusion: In conclusion, these results show a strong association between SHBG and blood pressure independent of major determinants of high blood pressure. This association might be addressed to direct effects of SHBG in endothelial cells through the receptor for SHBG. If this is confirmed by other observational and experimental studies, it might become a new field for the development of therapies for lowering blood pressure.
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