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Query: UMLS:C0020538 (hypertension)
 170,190 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Chronic congestive heart failure of various etiologies is characterized by progressive chamber dilation. Although myocyte lengthening is involved, it is not known if this cellular change can account for all of the chamber dilation. The controversy is due largely to technical limitations in collecting data on chamber circumference, myocyte length, and sarcomere length simultaneously. To address this issue, the contributions of myocyte and sarcomere lengthening to progressive chamber dilation in spontaneously hypertensive heart failure (SHHF) rats was examined using a new approach. Female SHHF rats (n=31) were examined at various time points between 2 months of age and the onset of end-stage heart failure (18 months or older). A new method enabled simultaneous collection of data on myocyte length, sarcomere length, and chamber circumference using formalin-fixed tissue. Reliability of cellular measurements was confirmed with an alternate method. LV myocyte length increased linearly between 2 and 24 months of age due to series addition of sarcomeres. Myocyte length increased in direct proportion to chamber circumference during this period (r=0.93, P<0.001). Results suggest that myocyte lengthening alone can account for chamber dilation in the progression to heart failure. Excessive myocyte lengthening is a slow, progressive change that begins long before clinical signs and symptoms of heart failure appear in this model of hypertension and failure. Since myocyte remodeling in hypertensive humans with and without failure is known to resemble that in SHHF rats, these data should provide important insight into chamber dilation and the progression of heart failure in humans.
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PMID:Correlation of myocyte lengthening to chamber dilation in the spontaneously hypertensive heart failure (SHHF) rat. 992 55

Congestive heart failure with preserved left ventricular systolic function has emerged as a growing epidemic medical syndrome in developed countries, which is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of this condition is essential for optimizing the therapeutic management. The diagnosis of congestive heart failure is challenging in patients presenting without obvious left ventricular systolic dysfunction and additional diagnostic information is most commonly required in this setting. Comprehensive Doppler echocardiography is the single most useful diagnostic test recommended by the ESC and ACC/AHA guidelines for assessing left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac abnormalities in patients with suspected congestive heart failure, and non-invasively determined basal or exercise-induced pulmonary capillary hypertension is likely to become a hallmark of congestive heart failure in symptomatic patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function. The present review will focus on the current clinical applications of spectral tissue Doppler echocardiography used as a reliable noninvasive surrogate for left ventricular diastolic pressures at rest as well as during exercise in the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved left ventricular systolic function. Chronic congestive heart failure, a disease of exercise, and acute heart failure syndromes are characterized by specific pathophysiologic and diagnostic issues, and these two clinical presentations will be discussed separately.
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PMID:Current clinical applications of spectral tissue Doppler echocardiography (E/E' ratio) as a noninvasive surrogate for left ventricular diastolic pressures in the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved left ventricular systolic function. 1738 87

Spinal fusion surgery has increased dramatically and patients presenting for surgery are often more medically challenging. We hypothesized that advanced age and coexisting morbidities have increased in the population undergoing spinal fusion and are associated with greater risks for immediate complications and mortality. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was retrospectively reviewed for discharges after a principal procedure code for elective spinal fusion. Total records meeting study inclusion criteria were 254,640. Coexisting morbidities were tabulated using Elixhauser comorbidities and the Charlson comorbidity index. Logistic regression identified risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality and early complications. The largest increase in spinal fusion surgery was in patients >65 years. Overall, those with at least 1 comorbidity increased (49% to 62%; P=0.002), as did mean Charlson index (0.146 to 0.202; P<0.001). In-hospital mortality was 0.13%, but 0.29%, and 0.64% for patients of 65 to 74, and those >or=75 years, respectively. Adjusted odds ratios for complications in 65-year to 74-year olds versus <65 years was 1.78 (95% confidence interval, 1.71-1.84; P<0.001), and for mortality 3.81 (95% confidence interval, 2.62-5.55; P<0.001); risks increased with the number of coexisting morbidities. Congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, coagulopathy, metastatic cancer, renal failure, and weight loss significantly correlated with in-hospital mortality, whereas hypertension or hypothyroidism had, unexpectedly, the opposite effect. Although it is known for some other forms of complex surgery, we showed that elderly and medically complex spinal fusion patients were at increased risk for in-hospital mortality and early complications. The majority of complications were operative, pulmonary, cardiovascular, or genito-urinary. Patient risk correlated with the number and nature of coexisting morbidities.
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PMID:In-hospital complications and mortality after elective spinal fusion surgery in the united states: a study of the nationwide inpatient sample from 2001 to 2005. 1909 20

Congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and hypertension are common causes of hospitalization in the elderly. Short-term postdischarge clinical outcomes regarding compliance, symptom control, readmission, functional status, and mortality rates are in need of improvement. This observational study documents the results of a home-based case-managed telemedicine (CMTM) program delivered over a 2-month period postdischarge. A population of 851, predominantly elderly (over age 60), recently discharged patients were enrolled in the program. They received a nurse visit up to 3 times/week and home telemedicine monitoring (weight, blood pressure, pulse rate, blood glucose, and oximeter recordings) on a daily basis. Patient education was provided by the nurse and reinforced through telemedicine. Compliance rates, quality of life parameters, patient satisfaction with telemedicine, and data regarding nine quality of care measures (QCM), hospital readmission, and mortality rates were documented. Patient demographics and outcomes of care were analyzed. There were 68% females and 56% African Americans. The readmission rate was 13% and mortality 2%. Treatment goals were met in 67%, patient compliance rate was 77%, and the average improvement in the nine QCM indicators was 66%. A majority of patients showed improved quality of health perception, better disease understanding, and high satisfaction rates with telemedicine. This is one of the larger observational studies in a predominantly elderly patient population enrolled in a CMTM program, to date. This model of care was well accepted by the elderly and produced excellent short-term clinical outcomes.
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PMID:Telemedicine for recently discharged older patients. 2006 67