Javed Butler

..In this study, we sought to explore the safety and efficacy of nesiritide in patients with acute congestive heart failure (CHF) and renal insufficiency (RI)...

..In this study, we assess the association between BMI and outcomes after LVAD implantation...

..This study was designed to assess outpatient angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) use after heart failure (HF) hospitalization...

..Implementation of disease-specific computerized physician order entry (CPOE) discharge tools may improve compliance with these measures...

..We sought to assess the relationship between survival, peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO(2)), and heart failure survival score (HFSS) in the current era of heart failure (HF) therapy...

..The purpose of this study was to assess whether metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) predicts a higher risk for cardiovascular events in older adults...

..Poor renal function may affect outcomes after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement. Conversely, LVADs may optimize circulation and improve renal function...

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..72 for LV end-diastolic volume) to excellent (r = 0.84 for septal wall thickness). In conclusion, MDCT provides comparable results to TTE for LV structure and functional assessment among patients with HF...

..This study was designed to determine adherence to outpatient beta-blocker therapy following acute myocardial infarction (AMI)...

..Overall, there was no particular type of hospital that performed consistently better or worse across the quality indicators studied. Substantial opportunities for improvement exist among all hospital types in Tennessee...

..Whether treatment for HF contributes to WRF is unknown. In this study, we sought to assess whether acute treatment for patients who were hospitalized with HF contributes to WRF...

..This study investigates the impact of pre-transplant functional performance and post-transplant rejection episodes, obesity and osteopenia on post-transplant health-related quality of life and functional performance...

..Pre-transplant fixed pulmonary hypertension is associated with higher post-transplant mortality. In this study, we assessed the significance of pre-transplant reversible pulmonary hypertension in patients undergoing cardiac transplantation...

..The recently developed and internally validated Health ABC HF model uses 9 routinely available clinical variables to determine incident heart failure risk. In this study, we sought to externally validate the Health ABC HF model...

..To evaluate the accuracy of 64-section multidetector computed tomography (CT) for the assessment of perfusion defects (PDs), regional wall motion (RWM), and global left ventricular (LV) function...

..The race- and sex-specific epidemiology of incident heart failure (HF) among a contemporary elderly cohort are not well described...

..To determine the diagnostic performance of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for the detection of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus as compared with transesophageal echocardiography...

..Biomarkers reflecting inflammation, vascular remodeling, oxidation, and lipoprotein metabolism maybe associated with different patterns of coronary atherosclerosis as quantified by coronary CT angiography...

..The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of worsening renal function (WRF) among hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients, clinical predictors of WRF, and hospital outcomes associated with WRF...

..These data may explain the higher cardiovascular risk in these patients and may lay the foundation for studies to determine whether such information may improve risk stratification...

..To assess the association between cardiovascular risk factors and extent of noncalcified- (NCAP), mixed- (MCAP), and calcified coronary atherosclerotic plaque (CAP)...

..This study was designed to determine the usefulness of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) in patients with acute chest pain...

..The exact form of the association between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart failure (HF) risk in the elderly remains incompletely defined, especially in individuals not receiving antihypertensive drugs...

..We hypothesized that none of the models would achieve a sensitivity of 90% or greater, thereby justifying use of CMCT in patients with acute chest pain...

..Although there is evidence linking smoking and heart failure (HF), the association between lifetime smoking exposure and HF in older adults and the strength of this association among current and past smokers is not well known...

..In conclusion, the clinical utility of coronary CTA may be limited by a low PPV in patients with a high prevalence of coronary artery disease...

..The aim of this study was to compare 64-slice MDCT analysis of cardiac structure and function to 2-dimensional echocardiography in heart transplant recipients...

..Multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) is inferior to intravascular ultrasound but may constitute an attractive noninvasive alternative to assess overall CAD burden...

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..76, 95%CI 1.05-2.94). No significant difference in survival was noted between insulin-dependent versus non-insulin-dependent diabetics. CONCLUSION: Patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of mortality after LVAD implantation...

..The impact of abnormal spirometric findings on risk for incident heart failure among older adults without clinically apparent lung disease is not well elucidated...

..How serum albumin levels are associated with risk for heart failure (HF) in the elderly is unclear...

..Newer medical and device therapies as well as regenerative techniques hold considerable promise for these patients in future...

..This study evaluated the impact of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support on survival and quality of life in inotrope-dependent heart failure patients ineligible for cardiac transplantation...

..In case of intolerance to one kind, a trial with a different beta-blocker is indicated...

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..The aortic valve can be assessed using MDCT; however, measurements of the aortic opening area vary with the cardiac cycle. In this study, we sought to assess the optimal timing for measuring the area of the aortic opening with MDCT...

..We examined more than a decade of experience with solid organ transplantation at a single center and compared VA patients with nonveteran patients to assess long-term patient and graft survival and health-related quality of life (HRQOL)...

..In conclusion, the relative hemodynamic response to exercise among anemic heart failure patients appears blunted and may contribute to worse exercise tolerance...

..In 4 critically ill patients, left thoracotomy was used as an alternative to repeat sternotomy. Anastomosis of the outflow conduit to the descending thoracic aorta provided satisfactory hemodynamic support...

..Additionally, drug development programs should be targeted not only to change short-term symptoms, but also to improve the postdischarge event rate...

..The efficacy of eplerenone in patients with mild HF symptoms translates into a unique opportunity to reduce morbidity and mortality earlier in the course of the disease...

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..Incremental value of echocardiography over clinical parameters for outcome prediction in advanced heart failure (HF) is not well established...

..In conclusion, there is significant variation in the perceptions of patients with heart failure compared to providers' records of co-morbidities and habits. The root causes of this variation and its impact on outcomes need further study...

..In this article, the pathophysiology, currently recommended clinical management and emerging therapies to treat symptoms of chronic stable angina are reviewed...

..Some of the salient points reviewed include the possible association of resistin with hyperglycemia and substrate metabolism, inflammation through TNF-alpha and direct cardiac effects...

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..We examined the effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the incident mobility limitation in older adults with and without diabetes...

..Limited data exist regarding whether relative lymphocyte count correlates with postdischarge outcomes in patients hospitalized for HF...

..These efforts are even more important now that readmission rates for HF have quality and reimbursement implications...

..Endothelial function and arterial stiffness may therefore serve as important physiological targets for new HF therapies and facilitate patient selection for improved application of existing agents...

..MDCT is a reliable modality for visualizing epicardial fat, and should be considered prior to undergoing procedures that are affected by epicardial fat content, especially in elderly and female populations...

..Vaccine-induced alterations in levels of these prothrombotic proteins do not appear to play a role in ischemic events observed after smallpox vaccination...

..This may impact greatly on achieving satisfactory health outcomes and patient satisfaction...

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..22-4.15). We concluded that the metabolic syndrome, a risk factor for CHD, is associated with higher levels of circulating oxLDL that are associated with a greater disposition to atherothrombotic coronary disease...

..This suggests that therapeutic interventions which improve renal function might be beneficial...

..Recent advances in cardiac multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) technology now permits entire coronary tree evaluation in a single breath hold with submillimeter slice collimation and improved temporal resolution...

..To determine the patterns of aspirin use for the primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). Aspirin for primary prevention has a more favorable risk/benefit profile among adults with high CHD risk than among low-risk adults...

..We determined the prevalence of aspirin use in relation to coronary heart disease risk and changes over time...

..001) for cardiovascular hospitalization, and 1.27 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.44, p<0.0001) for HF hospitalization. In conclusion, a baseline CTR>0.50 was associated with increased mortality and morbidity in ambulatory patients with chronic HF...

..Few data exist on the effect of short call on quality of patient care. Our objective was to examine the effect of short call admission on length of stay and quality of care for patients with acute decompensated heart failure...

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..To our knowledge, the association of hyponatremia with outcomes has not been evaluated in the context of in-hospital clinical course including central hemodynamics and changes in serum sodium level...