Ford Motor Company

About: Ford Motor Company is a company organization based out in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Internal combustion engine & Signal. The organization has 36123 authors who have published 51450 publications receiving 855200 citations. The organization is also known as: Ford Motor & Ford Motor Corporation.

Antithrombotic therapy and outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation following primary percutaneous coronary intervention: results from the APEX-AMI trial

Abstract: Aims To assess the incidence and timing of atrial fibrillation (AF), describe antithrombotic therapy use, and evaluate the association of AF with 90 day mortality and other secondary clinical outcomes. Methods and results We studied 5745 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in APEX-AMI. Approximately 11% had AF during hospitalization. Atrial fibrillation prevalence at baseline and at discharge was 4.8% [confidence interval (CI) 4.3–5.4%] and 2.5% (CI 2.1–2.9%), respectively. The proportion of 5466 patients without AF at baseline who developed new onset AF was 6.3% (CI 5.6–6.9%). This corresponded to 9.3 cases of new onset AF/1000 patient days at risk. New onset AF was independently associated with 90 day mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.81; 95% CI 1.06–3.09; P = 0.029] after accounting for baseline covariates and in-hospital procedures and complications. New onset AF was associated with shock (adjusted HR 3.81; 95% CI 1.88–7.70; P = 0.0002), congestive heart failure (adjusted HR 2.66; 95% CI 1.74–4.06; P < 0.0001), and stroke (adjusted HR 2.98; 95% CI 1.47–6.04; P = 0.0024) in models accounting for baseline covariates. Of AF patients, 55% did not receive oral anticoagulation therapy at discharge. Among patients with coronary stents, 5.1% were discharged on triple therapy. Patients at highest risk of stroke (CHADS2 score ≥2) were least likely to receive oral anticoagulation at discharge (39%). Warfarin use in patients with AF at discharge (43.4%) was associated with lower rates of 90 day mortality and stroke. Conclusion Atrial fibrillation prevalence at baseline and at discharge was 4.8 and 2.5%, respectively. The proportion of patients who developed new onset AF was 6.3%. New onset AF was independently associated with 90 day mortality and was a marker of adverse outcomes in patients undergoing primary PCI.

Chronic Electrical Stimulation of the Carotid Sinus Baroreflex Improves Left Ventricular Function and Promotes Reversal of Ventricular Remodeling in Dogs With Advanced Heart Failure

Abstract: Background— Autonomic abnormalities exist in heart failure and contribute to disease progression. Activation of the carotid sinus baroreflex (CSB) has been shown to reduce sympathetic outflow and augment parasympathetic vagal tone. This study tested the hypothesis that long-term electric activation of the CSB improves left ventricular (LV) function and attenuates progressive LV remodeling in dogs with advanced chronic heart failure. Methods and Results— Studies were performed in 14 dogs with coronary microembolization-induced heart failure (LV ejection fraction ≈25%). Eight dogs were chronically instrumented for bilateral CSB activation using the Rheos System (CVRx Inc, Minneapolis, Minn) and 6 were not and served as controls. All dogs were followed for 3 months, and none received other background therapy. During follow-up, treatment with CSB increased LV ejection fraction 4.0±2.4% compared with a reduction in control dogs of −2.8±1.0% ( P <0.05). Similarly, treatment with CSB decreased LV end-systolic volume −2.5±2.7 mL compared with an increase in control dogs of 6.7±2.9 mL ( P <0.05). Compared with control, CSB activation significantly decreased LV end-diastolic pressure and circulating plasma norepinephrine, normalized expression of cardiac β1-adrenergic receptors, β-adrenergic receptor kinase, and nitric oxide synthase and reduced interstitial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Conclusions— In dogs with advanced heart failure, CSB activation improves global LV function and partially reverses LV remodeling both globally and at cellular and molecular levels.

Effects of ACE inhibition on cardiomyocyte apoptosis in dogs with heart failure

Abstract: Cardiomyocyte apoptosis or programmed cell death has been shown to occur in end-stage explanted failed human hearts and in dogs with chronic heart failure (HF). We tested the hypothesis that early ...