New Heart Failure Medication - Sacubitril (Neprilysin inhibitor)

From Cardiology News Aug 2015:

RE: FDA approval for a combination medication (Sacubitril + Valsartan)

Sacubitril - a neprilysin inhibitor

Valsartaion - an angiotensin receptor blocker

Prenatal Detection Rate of CHD in US

From Pediatrics 2015;136(2):e378-e385.

ARVD criteria

Importance of CMR within the task force criteria for the diagnosis of ARVC in children and adolescents.
Etoom Y, et al. JACC 2015;65:987-995.

Pulmonary arterial capacitance

Pulmonary arterial capacitance is an important predictor of mortality in heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction.

Al-Naamani et al. JACC: Heart Failure 2015;3(6):467-74.

Several definitions are explained in the introduction of this article.

Pulmonary hypertension secondary left heart disease is defined as mean PAP > 25 mmHg and mean PAWP > 15 mmHg.

Transpulmonary gradient > 12 mmHg is considered "disproportionate" increase in mean PAP relative to mean PAWP.

These two groups (disproportionate vs. proportionate increase in mPAP) may be better discriminated by diastolic pressure gradient > or = 7 mmHg vs. < 7 mmHg (ref:  Vachiery JL et al. Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease. JACC 2013 Dec;62(25 Suppl):D100-8).

Physical Examination of Arteriovenous Fistula

Sodium abnormalities

Review article: NEJM 2015;372:55-65.

Disorders of Plasma Sodium - Causes, Consequences, and Correction.

Sterns RH.

Abstract

This review considers the causes and consequences of an abnormal plasma sodium concentration and offers a framework for correcting it.

PMID:

 

25551526

 

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Acute Kidney Injury detection after heart surgery in children

JACC 2014;64:2753-62

Combining functional and tubular damage biomarkers improves diagnostic precision of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery.

Rajit K. Basu, et al. JACC 2014;64:2753-62.

Objective: Combining two biomarkers will improve precision of acute kidney injury (AKI) diagnosis after heart surgery in children.

Methods: n=345 children after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Two biomarkers: Plasma Cystatin C & uNGAL were measured 2 hr after initiation of CPB.

Conclusion: Composites of plasma Cystatin C and uNGAL are superior to serum creatinine for predicting discrete characteristics of AKI.

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