Heart Views 

About: Heart Views is an academic journal published by Medknow. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Myocardial infarction. It has an ISSN identifier of 1995-705X. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 578 publications have been published receiving 4338 citations.

Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease: Historical Perspectives.

Abstract: We consider our current understanding and therapy of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) state-of-the-art, but heart disease is still a problem because there is still a lot that we do not know. There is still no cure for any form of heart disease. However, research is ongoing, and new clues are emerging which could lead to better treatments in the future. Results from epidemiological studies, foremost among them the Framingham study, have been crucial to our current knowledge about CVD. Emphasis is on the identification of risk factors, assessment of their predictive ability, and their implications for disease prevention. The concept of “risk factors” in coronary heart disease (CHD) was first coined by the Framingham heart study (FHS), which published its findings in 1957. FHS demonstrated the epidemiologic relations of cigarette smoking, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels to the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). The findings were truly revolutionary for it helped bring about a change in the way medicine is practiced.

Nitro-glycerine as a remedy for angine pectoris*

Abstract: It is only quite recently that nitro-glycerine has been much recommended in cases in which the nitrite of amyl had been found to be of service, the physiological effects of the two drugs being very similar. From this little work, however, we learn that some twenty-five years ago the action of this substance was studied, and its effects described by Mr. A. G. Field, of Brighton. The publication of his experience led others to try it, with the result that his conclusions were challenged. But opinions were so conflicting that some five years ago Dr. Murrell began investigating the subject for himself, and the result is the present work?some of the cases in which have already been published in the Lancet (1879). The physiological effects which he has observed on himself

Contrast-induced Nephropathy.

Abstract: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious complication of angiographic procedures resulting from the administration of contrast media (CM). It is the third most common cause of hospital acquired acute renal injury and represents about 12% of the cases. CIN is defined as an elevation of serum creatinine (Scr) of more than 25% or ≥0.5 mg/dl (44 μmol/l) from baseline within 48 h. More sensitive markers of renal injury are desired, therefore, several biomarkers of tubular injury are under evaluation. Multiple risk factors may contribute to the development of CIN; these factors are divided into patient- and procedure-related factors. Treatment of CIN is mainly supportive, consisting mainly of careful fluid and electrolyte management, although dialysis may be required in some cases. The available treatment option makes prevention the corner stone of management. This article will review the recent evidence concerning CIN incidence, diagnosis, and prevention strategies as well as its treatment and prognostic implications.

Transthoracic doppler echocardiography: Noninvasive diagnostic window for coronary flow reserve assessment

Abstract: This review focuses on transthoracic Doppler echocardiography as noninvasive method used to assess coronary flow reserve (CFR) in a wide spectrum of clinical settings. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is rapidly gaining appreciation as popular tool to measure CFR both in stenosed and normal epicardial coronary arteries (predominantly in left anterior descending coronary artery). Post-stenotic CFR measurement is helpful in: functional assessment of moderate stenosis, detection of significant or critical stenosis, monitoring of restenosis after revascularization. In the absence of stenosis in the epicardial coronary artery, decreased CFR enable to detect impaired microvascular vasodilatation in: reperfused myocardial infarct, arterial hypertension with or without left ventricular hypertrophy, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, syndrome X, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In these diseases, noninvasive transthoracic Doppler echocardiography allows for serial CFR evaluations to explore the effect of various pharmacological therapies.

Epicardial fat and its association with cardiovascular risk: a cross-sectional observational study.

Abstract: Background: The association between visceral obesity and cardiovascular risk has been well described. Some studies show a proportional relationship between the presence of visceral obesity and epicardial fat. Measuring the amount of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) can be a novel parameter that is inexpensive and easy to obtain and may be helpful in cardiovascular risk stratification. However, the relationship between epicardial fat and cardiac function and that between epicardial fat and cardiac risk factors is less well described. Objectives: To evaluate the association between echocardiographic epicardial fat and the morphologic and physiologic changes observed at echocardiography and to evaluate the association between epicardial fat and cardiac risk factors. A cross-sectional study of 97 echocardiographic studies (females, n = 42) was conducted. Two groups were identified: epicardial fat ≥ 5 mm (group I) and Results: Epicardial fat >5 mm was associated with LA enlargement, with lower ejection fraction, increased left ventricular mass, and abnormal diastolic function. On a multivariable regression analysis, all these parameters also correlated individually with EAT thickness independent of age. Hyperglycemia (DM), systolic hypertension, and lipid parameters for metabolic syndrome showed a trend for positive association, but this was not statistically significant. The association was not significant even for higher cutoff limits of EAT thickness. Conclusion: Epicardial fat >5 mm is associated with cardiac abnormalities on echocardiography. This is a sensitive assessment of body fat distribution, is easily available at echocardiography, and is simple to acquire at no added cost. Further studies looking at the appropriate cut-off thickness of EAT and the sites of measurement to be used are needed. Comparison of this simple and inexpensive measure with other measures of obesity, such as waist-hip ratio, body mass index, Dexa scan of visceral fat, and magnetic resonance imaging of visceral, are needed.