INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Although traditionally an elevated white blood cell count (WBC), an indicator of systemic inflammation, has been accepted as part of the healing response following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), it has frequently been shown to be a predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. The present study was designed to assess the association between WBC and long-term mortal...

BACKGROUND Pre-hospital electrocardiogram (ECG) transmission to an expert for interpretation and triage reduces time to acute percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). In order to detect all STEMI patients, the ECG should be transmitted in all cases of suspected acute cardiac ischemia. The aim of this study was to examine the ability o...

BACKGROUND The circadian clock influences a number of cardiovascular (patho)physiological processes including the incidence of acute myocardial infarction. A circadian variation in infarct size has recently been shown in rodents, but there is no clinical evidence of this finding. OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of time-of-day onset of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) on in...

OBJECTIVE Early clinical presentation of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction affects patient management. Although local inflammatory activities are involved in the onset of MI, little is known about their impact on early clinical presentation. This study aimed to investigate whether local inflammatory activities affect early clin...

Anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) can be a life-threatening condition. Prompt recognition of the typical ECG findings and rapid transfer to a primary percutaneous coronary intervention centre are critical. Although the ECG appearances of anterior STEMI are quite characteristic, confusion sometimes arises with 3 other ECG morphologies. Can you identify the genuine anter...

AIMS The aim of the present study was to evaluate the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) structure and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activation capacity in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with different acute-phase inflammatory response (APR). METHODS AND RESULTS Forty-five STEMI patients were stratified in quartiles according to the delta CRP level, calculated by subtracting...

BACKGROUND In the United States, efforts are underway to improve timely access to percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The Joint Commission (TJC) and the American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) have developed standardized definitions and clinical performance measures for STEMI. The purpose of this study was to dete...

BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is excessively expressed in frail region of atherosclerotic plaque and released in circulation following plaque rupture. High MMP-9 level associated with severity of occluded thrombus and subsequent myocardial infarction. MMP-9 (-1562C>T) polymorphism associated with acute myocardial infarction, however conflicting data present regarding impact of MMP...

BACKGROUND We evaluated the first-medical-contact-to-balloon (FMC2B) time after implementation of a "Call 911" protocol for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) interfacility transfers in a regional system. METHODS AND RESULTS This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with STEMI requiring interfacility transfer from a STEMI referring hospital, to one of 35 per...

Aims Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with cardiogenic shock is strongly recommended (class IB) in the current guidelines. We performed meta-analyses to evaluate the evidence for IABP in STEMI with and without cardiogenic shock. Methods and results Medical literature databases were scrutinized to identify randomized trials compar...