Table of contents
April 2007 Volume 4 No 4
Editorial
Viewpoint
Virtual reality simulation in carotid stenting: a new paradigm for procedural training
174In recent years, virtual reality simulation has become recommended for training in complex endovascular procedures. Here, Christopher Cates discusses the benefits of this emerging paradigm in medical education, highlighting the applications of the state-of-the-art Vascular Interventional System Trainer (VIST®) for carotid artery stenting.
Research Highlights
A study of heart failure in the community setting
176Minimizing door-to-balloon time in patients with STEMI
176Long-term clopidogrel therapy improves outcomes after drug-eluting stent placement
176Interactions of inherited and exogenous risk factors increase risk of venous thromboembolism
177Enalapril protects against the cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy
177Suboptimal use of statins increases risk of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction
178Sirolimus-eluting and paclitaxel-eluting stents in patients with diabetes: two-year outcomes
178Sirolimus-eluting stents are not cost-effective compared with bare-metal stents
178Screening children could identify families at high risk of cardiovascular disease
179Medication adherence improved by comprehensive pharmacy care program
179Long-term follow-up needed after bone marrow mononuclear cell therapy for limb ischemia
180Increased incidence of thoracic aortic disease, but improved postoperative survival
180Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolases as a new treatment target for cardiac hypertrophy
181Practice Points
Does improving hypertension control involve more than just pills?
182Is carotid artery stenting superior to carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic stroke patients?
184Does preadmission anticoagulation therapy reduce stroke severity in patients with atrial fibrillation?
186Skeletonized internal thoracic arteries for CABG surgery: a new gold standard?
188Does cardiac resynchronization therapy reduce the long-term mortality risk in patients with heart failure?
190Do bioprosthetic aortic valves deteriorate more rapidly in patients with the metabolic syndrome?
192Reviews
Drug Insight: statins for nonischemic heart failure—evidence and potential mechanisms
196The beneficial effects of statins in the treatment and prevention of ischemic coronary artery disease are well-established; their value in the treatment of heart failure is, however, still being investigated. Here, Lipinski et al. discuss how the pleiotropic effects of statins could improve survival in the setting of ischemic and nonischemic heart failure.
doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0855 | Full Text | PDF (254K)
Surgery Insight: advances in endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms
206Endovascular stent-graft repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms is a less-invasive alternative to open repair. Since the first description of the technique in 1990, the technology used has developed rapidly. In this Surgery Insight, Donald Baril, Tikva Jacobs and Michael Marin summarize the history of endovascular stent-graft development and discuss recent data on patients treated with this technique, and outline some new advances in stent-graft repairs.
doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0849 | Full Text | PDF (355K)
Mechanisms of Disease: genetic causes of familial hypercholesterolemia
214Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited disorder characterized by raised serum LDL cholesterol, which leads to accelerated atherosclerosis and a steep rise in the risk of premature coronary heart disease. Here, Anne Soutar and Rossi Naoumova examine the genetic mechanisms behind FH and discuss what effect new discoveries will have on the clinical management of FH.
doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0836 | Full Text | PDF (424K)
Case Study
Superior vena cava syndrome: an increasingly frequent complication of cardiac procedures
226doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0850 | Full Text | PDF (267K)
