Value of cardiac troponin I measurement in prediction of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the value of cardiac troponin I (CTnI) measurement in predicting anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study was conducted among 186 breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Serum cTnI concentrations before and after each cycle of the chemotherapy and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) before and at the 2nd, 4th and 6th months of the treatment were recorded. According to serum cTnI concentration, the patients were divided into CTnI+ group (with serum CTnI concentration of no less than 0.1 ng/ml, n=60) and CTnI- (<0.1 ng/ml) group (n=126).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No patients in this series experienced cardiac heart failure (CHF). The number of patients with a LVEF reduction by over 10% from the baseline was 16 (26.7%) in CTnI+ group, as compared to 7 (5.6%) in CTnI- group, showing a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CTnI can be a useful marker for early prediction of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer.</p>

Safety and efficacy on cerebral protection with filter devices during carotid artery stenting in Chinese patients / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy, safety, procedural success and long-term clinical outcome in patients underwent percutaneous carotid stenting with distal device.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Percutaneous carotid stents with distal device were implanted to 58 patients with 59 significant (> 75%) carotid artery stenosis (49 men, mean age 68 years) between January 2000 to December 2005. Forty-five out of 58 patients were symptomatic, 35 had coronary artery diseases and 10 had previous strokes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty one carotid stenting were implanted to 59 lesions in 58 patients. Stents with filter devices were successfully implanted in 57 out of 58 (98%) patients. Angioplasty success rate was 100%. Aspirin (300 mg/d) and Clopidogrel (75 mg x 2/d) were administered 3 days prior operation and clopidogrel was discontinued 30 days post stenting and aspirin was continued at dose of 100 mg/d. The percentage of stenotic carotid artery reduced from 85.3% to 6.2% after stenting and the diameter increased from 1.3 +/- 0.9 mm to 5.2 +/- 1.1 mm. Two minor strokes (3.4%) occurred during operation and at 14 days post stenting. All patients were discharged from the hospital after an average of 2.5 days hospitalization. At 14 +/- 2 months follow up, all patients survived and there were 2 asymptomatic restenosis (50% and 70% and the latter underwent successful balloon angioplasty), 2 myocardial infarctions (1 non-Q wave and 1 Q wave myocardial infarction, all underwent successful emergent PCI) and 2 minor strokes occurred at 6 and 8 months post stenting.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Carotid stenting with distal device appears to be safe and effective in treating patients with carotid artery stenosis.</p>