Assessing coronary heart disease in women

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of mortality in women worldwide. However CHD is still considered to be a male disease and it is likely to be under-diagnosed in women since symptoms are different in women and diagnostic tests may be less specific or sensitive. This review examines the symptoms and risk factors for CHD in women. The role of invasive and non-invasive tests together with their prognostic implications as well as indications for coronary revascularization will be discussed. New research should focus on the role of gender differences in CHD and trials specifically designed to study women.     

Linkage map of three HLA-DR beta-chain genes: evidence for a recent duplication event.

The predominant class II, or Ia, antigen of the human major histocompatibility complex is HLA-DR. It consists of an alpha and a beta chain, the latter being responsible for the remarkable polymorphism of these Ia antigens. Studies with cloned genes had shown the existence of more than one DR beta-chain locus. We have isolated about 100 kilobases of the HLA-DR beta-chain gene region from a cosmid library generated from a consanguineous homozygous B-cell line of the DR3 haplotype. Three HLA-DR beta-chain genes have been characterized. They are arranged in a head-to-tail orientation. One of the genes lacks the region encoding the first domain of the DR beta chain. The two other genes are transcribed, as shown by RNA blot hybridization analysis. A striking restriction site homology has been found within the DR beta-chain gene cluster, suggesting a recent duplication event involving at least 25 kilobases of DNA. Moreover, the molecular map of DR beta chain genes cloned from B-cell lines of two other HLA-DR haplotypes shows extensive homology between alleles of a given DR beta-chain locus.     

Carotid plaque characterisation by IVUS-VH during carotid stenting: the "eyes wide shut" between plaque morphology and symptoms

Stroke is the third most common cause of death in North America and ever year approximately 700,000 new strokes are reported in the United States. Seventy-five percent of these occur in the distribution of the carotid arteries. Among strokes of a thromboembolic etiology, carotid occlusive disease is the most common cause. As many as 150,300 stroke-related fatalities are documented annually, with a total cost for the health-care system of approximately $ 18 billion per year. This review will focus on the different pathomorphologic aspects of carotid plaque, outlining the similarities and differences with the coronary plaque, with particular attention on how intravascular imaging may contribute to a better stratification of the patient treatment.     

Impact of diabetes mellitus on the pharmacodynamic effects of prasugrel and ticagrelor after switching from clopidogrel in patients with coronary artery disease

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Switching P2Y12 inhibitors is common in clinical practice. However, data on the pharmacodynamic (PD) effects of switching in clinical settings characterized...