European heart journal. Acute cardiovascular care 

About: European heart journal. Acute cardiovascular care is an academic journal published by SAGE Publishing. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Myocardial infarction. It has an ISSN identifier of 2048-8726. Over the lifetime, 1487 publications have been published receiving 18408 citations. The journal is also known as: Acute cardiovascular care.

Mental health care for medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge for society. Supporting the mental health of medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers (staff) is a critical part of the public health response. This paper details the effects on staff and addresses some of the organisational, team and individual considerations for supporting staff (pragmatically) during this pandemic. Leaders at all levels of health care organisations will find this a valuable resource.

Atherosclerosis, platelets and thrombosis in acute ischaemic heart disease:

Abstract: Atherosclerosis is the underlying reason for nearly all causes of coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease and many cases of stroke. Atherosclerosis is a systemic inflammatory process characterised by the accumulation of lipids and macrophages/lymphocytes within the intima of large arteries. The deposition of these blood borne materials and the subsequent thickening of the wall often significantly compromise the residual lumen leading to ischaemic events distal to the arterial stenosis. However, these initial fatty streak lesions may also evolve into vulnerable plaques susceptible to rupture or erosion. Plaque disruption initiates both platelet adhesion and aggregation on the exposed vascular surface and the activation of the clotting cascade leading to the so-called atherothrombotic process. Yet, platelets have also been shown to be transporters of regulatory molecules (micro-RNA), to drive the inflammatory response and mediate atherosclerosis progression. Here we discuss our current understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in atherogenesis - from fatty streaks to complex and vulnerable atheromas - and highlight the molecular machinery used by platelets to regulate the atherogenic process, thrombosis and its clinical implications.

Prevalence of spontaneous coronary artery dissection in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Abstract: Aims:Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) found typically in young females without classical coronary risk factors is thought to be a very rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The ...

How is cardiac troponin released from injured myocardium

Abstract: Cardiac troponin I and cardiac troponin T are nowadays the criterion biomarkers for the laboratory diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction due to their very high sensitivities and specificities for myocardial injury. However, still many aspects of their degradation, tissue release and elimination from the human circulation are incompletely understood. Myocardial injury may be caused by a variety of different mechanisms, for example, myocardial ischaemia, inflammatory and immunological processes, trauma, drugs and toxins, and myocardial necrosis is preceded by a substantial reversible prelethal phase. Recent experimental data in a pig model of myocardial ischaemia demonstrated cardiac troponin release into the circulation from apoptotic cardiomyocytes as an alternative explanation for clinical situations with increased cardiac troponin without any other evidence for myocardial necrosis. However, the comparably lower sensitivities of all currently available imaging modalities, including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for the detection of particularly non-focal myocardial necrosis in patients, has to be considered for cardiac troponin test result interpretation in clinical settings without any other evidence for myocardial necrosis apart from increased cardiac troponin concentrations as well.

Transient attenuation of the amplitude of the QRS complexes in the diagnosis of Takotsubo syndrome.

Abstract: Background and objectives:Currently, there are no specific diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) signs for Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) to differentiate it from acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Myocardial oedema has been detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with TTS. Recently it has been postulated that myocardial oedema may be the cause of low QRS voltage (LQRSV) in the admission ECG and attenuation of the amplitude of the QRS complexes (AAQRS) in serial ECGs, noted in a few published cases of patients with TTS. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the admission ECG of patients with documented TTS reveals LQRSV and whether AAQRS is found when serial ECGs are compared in such patients.Methods:This study evaluated the prevalence of LQRSV in the admission ECG and AAQRS in serial ECGs in patients with TTS. ECGs of 368 patients with TTS from published reports in the international literature were evaluated for LQRSV (≤5 mm in limb leads and/or ≤10 mm in precordial leads) and AAQRS ...