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I Anand

Publications and source records attributed to I Anand.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Rationale and design of ACTIVE: the atrial fibrillation clopidogrel trial with irbesartan for prevention of vascular events.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequently occurring cardiac arrhythmia with often serious clinical consequences. Many patients have contraindications to anticoagulation, and it is often underused in clinical practice. The addition of clopidogrel to aspirin (ASA) has been shown to reduce vascular events in a number of high-risk populations. Irbesartan is an angiotensin receptor-blocking agent that reduces blood pressure and has other vascular protective effects. METHODS AND RESULTS: ACTIVE W is a noninferiority trial of clopidogrel plus ASA versus oral anticoagulation in patients with AF and at least 1 risk factor for stroke. ACTIVE A is a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of clopidogrel in patients with AF and with at least 1 risk factor for stroke who receive ASA because they have a contraindication for oral anticoagulation or because they are unwilling to take an oral anticoagulant. ACTIVE I is a partial factorial, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of irbesartan in patients participating in ACTIVE A or ACTIVE W. The primary outcomes of these studies are composites of vascular events. A total of 14000 patients will be enrolled in these trials. CONCLUSIONS: ACTIVE is the largest trial yet conducted in AF. Its results will lead to a new understanding of the role of combined antiplatelet therapy and the role of blood pressure lowering with an angiotensin II receptor blocker in patients with AF.

Aged↗

SCA12 is a rare locus for autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia: a study of an Indian family.

Spinocerebellar ataxia 12 (SCA12) is an autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) described in a single family with a CAG repeat expansion in the PPP2R2B gene. We screened 247 index cases, including 145 families with ADCA, for this expansion. An expanded repeat ranging from 55 to 61 triplets was detected in 6 affected and 3 unaffected individuals at risk in a single family from India. The association of the PPP2R2B CAG repeat expansion with disease in this new family provides additional evidence that the mutation is causative.

Adult↗

Augmented short- and long-term hemodynamic and hormonal effects of an angiotensin receptor blocker added to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy in patients with heart failure. Vasodilator Heart Failure Trial (V-HeFT) Study Group.

BACKGROUND: ACE inhibitors may not adequately suppress deleterious levels of angiotensin II in patients with heart failure. An angiotensin receptor blocker added to an ACE inhibitor may exert additional beneficial effects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-three symptomatic stable patients with chronic heart failure receiving long-term ACE inhibitor therapy were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with valsartan 80 mg BID, valsartan 160 mg BID, or placebo while receiving their usual ACE inhibitor therapy. Studies were performed before and after the first dose of the test drug and again after 4 weeks of therapy. A single dose of lisinopril was administered during study days to ensure sustained ACE inhibition. Compared with placebo, the first dose of valsartan 160 mg resulted in a significantly greater reduction in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure at 3, 4, and 8 hours and during the prespecified 4- to 8-hour interval after the dose and in systolic blood pressure at 2, 3, 6, 8, and 12 hours and 4 to 8 hours after the dose. A pressure reduction from valsartan 80 mg did not achieve statistical significance. After 4 weeks of therapy, net reductions in 0-hour trough pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (-4.3 mm Hg; P=0. 16), pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (-4.7 mm Hg; P=0.013), and systolic blood pressure (-6.8 mm Hg; P=0.013) were observed in the valsartan 160 mg group compared with placebo. After 4 weeks of therapy, plasma aldosterone was reduced by valsartan 80 mg BID (-52. 1 pg/mL; P=0.001) and 160 mg BID (-47.8 pg/mL; P<0.001) compared with placebo, and there was a trend for a reduction in plasma norepinephrine (-97 pg/mL; P=0.10). Seventy-four of the 83 patients completed the trial. CONCLUSIONS: Physiologically active levels of angiotensin II persist during standard long-term ACE inhibitor therapy.

Aged↗

Circadian rhythm of gene expression of myocardial contractile protein, left ventricular pressure and contractility.

Objective. A number of cardiovascular variables exhibit a circadian rhythm. Whether myocardial contractile response and gene expression of the contractile protein also show changes with a similar period was here investigated. Method. Circadian variabilities in the left ventricular developed pressure (LVP) and contractility (LV dp/dt max) were measured in 24 Sprague-Dawley rats by directly left ventricular catheterizing and compared with changes in the gene expression of alpha-myosin heavy chain (alpha-MHC) in myocytes obtained from the same animals by dot blotting analysis. Results. A circadian rhythm was seen in the variability of LVP (P<0.001), LV dp/dt max (P<0.001) and the biochemically measured expression of the alpha-MHC gene (P<0.01). As compared to the amplitude of the rhythm in alpha-MHC gene expression, the amplitude of the contractility rhythm was large (P<0.01) and the circadian amplitude of the LVP (P<0.001) was the largest, representing perhaps a composite of intracardiac plus any extracardiac contributions. Conclusion. One of factors determining the circadian rhythm of myocardial contractile function is alpha-MHC gene expression level.

Animals↗

Acute and chronic effects of propionyl-L-carnitine on the hemodynamics, exercise capacity, and hormones in patients with congestive heart failure.

Carnitine is an important cofactor in the intermediary metabolism of the heart, and carnitine deficiency is associated with congestive heart failure. We therefore studied the effects of acute (IV bolus, 30 mg/kg body weight) and chronic administration (1.5 mg/d for 1 month) of propionyl-L-carnitine on hemodynamics, hormone levels, ventricular function, exercise capacity, and peak oxygen consumption in 30 patients with chronic congestive heart failure (NYHA II-III, mean EF 29.5 +/- 7%) in a phase II, parallel, single-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled study. Acute administration of propionyl-L-carnitine caused a significant reduction in pulmonary artery and pulmonary wedge pressures at both day 1 (P < 0.001) and day 30 (P < 0.05) of the study but no other hemodynamics changes. Hormone levels did not change following acute administration of the drug. Chronic administration of propionyl-L-carnitine increased peak oxygen consumption by 45% (from 16.0 +/- 3 to 23.5 +/- 2 mL/kg/min, P +/- 0.001), exercise time by 21% (from 8.1 +/- 0.5 to 9.8 +/- 0.4 minutes, P < 0.01), and peak exercise heart rate by 12% (P < 0.01). These changes were concomitant with a reduction of pulmonary artery pressure. In the treated group, there was a slight, but significant (P < 0.01), reduction in left ventricular dimensions. Hemodynamics and hormones measured after 1 month of oral therapy remained unchanged, except for a fall in pulmonary artery pressures, with a nonsignificant trend towards a fall in filling pressures and plasma norepinephrine. The chronic changes in the propionyl-L-carnitine group were seen at 15 days of treatment, and no further changes in these parameters were seen at 1 month. We conclude that propionyl-L-carnitine increases exercise capacity and reduces ventricular size in patients with congestive heart failure. The drug has no significant effects on hemodynamics or neurohormone levels. The use of a single-blind design reduces the impact of the positive finding on exercise capacity.

Adult↗

Cardiovascular autonomic modulation and activity of carotid baroreceptors at altitude.

1. To assess the effects of acute exposure to high altitude on baroreceptor function in man we evaluated the effects of baroreceptor activation on R-R interval and blood pressure control at high altitude. We measured the low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components in R-R, non-invasive blood pressure and skin blood flow, and the effect of baroreceptor modulation by 0. 1-Hz sinusoidal neck suction. Ten healthy sea-level natives and three high-altitude native, long-term sea-level residents were evaluated at sea level, upon arrival at 4970 m and 1 week later.2. Compared with sea level, acute high altitude decreased R-R and increased blood pressure in all subjects [sea-level natives: R-R from 1002+/-45 to 775+/-57 ms, systolic blood pressure from 130+/-3 to 150+/-8 mmHg; high-altitude natives: R-R from 809+/-116 to 749+/-47 ms, systolic blood pressure from 110+/-12 to 125+/-11 mmHg (P<0.05 for all)]. One week later systolic blood pressure was similar to values at sea level in all subjects, whereas R-R remained elevated in sea-level natives. The low-frequency power in R-R and systolic blood pressure increased in sea-level natives [R-R-LF from 47+/-8 to 65+/-10% (P<0.05), systolic blood pressure-LF from 1.7+/-0. 3 to 2.6+/-0.4 ln-mmHg2 (P<0.05)], but not in high-altitude natives (R-R-LF from 32+/-13 to 38+/-19%, systolic blood pressure-LF from 1. 9+/-0.5 to 1.7+/-0.8 ln-mmHg2). The R-R-HF decreased in sea-level natives but not in high-altitude natives, and no changes occurred in systolic blood pressure-HF. These changes remained evident 1 week later. Skin blood flow variability and its spectral components decreased markedly at high altitude in sea-level natives but showed no changes in high-altitude natives. Neck suction significantly increased the R-R- and systolic blood pressure-LF in all subjects at both sea level and high altitude.3. High altitude induces sympathetic activation in sea-level natives which is partially counteracted by active baroreflex. Despite long-term acclimatization at sea level, high-altitude natives also maintain active baroreflex at high altitude but with lower sympathetic activation, indicating a persisting high-altitude adaptation which may be genetic or due to baroreflex activity not completely lost by at least 1 year's sea-level residence.

Adult↗

Effect of the calcium antagonist felodipine as supplementary vasodilator therapy in patients with chronic heart failure treated with enalapril: V-HeFT III. Vasodilator-Heart Failure Trial (V-HeFT) Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Despite therapy with diuretics, ACE inhibitors and digoxin morbidity and mortality in heart failure remain high and might respond favorably to an additional vasodilator. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male patients (n=450) with chronic heart failure (cardiac dysfunction and impaired exercise performance) on optimal current therapy (97% enalapril, 89% diuretics) were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with felodipine extended release (5 mg BID) or placebo for 3 to 39 months (average, 18 months). Felodipine significantly reduced blood pressure and, at 3 months, increased ejection fraction (2.1% versus -0.1% units in the placebo group, P=.001) and reduced plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels (-2.9 versus 26.9 pg/mL in the placebo group, P=.01) but did not improve exercise tolerance, quality of life, or the need for hospitalization. During long-term follow-up, the favorable effects on ejection fraction and atrial peptide did not persist, but felodipine prevented worsening exercise tolerance and quality of life. In the felodipine and placebo groups, mortality (13.8% versus 12.8%, respectively) and hospitalization (43% versus 42%) rates were similar, and a higher incidence of peripheral edema was the only apparent side effect of felodipine therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Felodipine exerts a well-tolerated additional sustained vasodilator effect in patients with heart failure treated with enalapril, but the only possible long-term benefit was a trend for better exercise tolerance and less depression of quality of life in the second year of treatment. The drug appears to be safe but not clearly efficacious in patients with heart failure.

Adult↗

Autonomic regulation of heart rate and peripheral circulation: comparison of high altitude and sea level residents.

1. To evaluate the activity of the autonomic nervous system on the heart and peripheral circulation in native high-altitude residents, during a Himalayan expedition we studied 12 men (age: 48 +/- 4, mean +/- SEM), life-long resident in a village at 4800 m (Sumdo village, Zanskar, India) and 7 healthy sea-level residents (age: 37 +/- 4) after 7 days of acclimatization (acclimatized lowlanders) at the same altitude. Furthermore 25 sea level residents (age: 46 +/- 2) underwent the same protocol at sea level. 2. R-R interval (RR), respiratory signal, non-invasive blood pressure, and skin arteriolar blood flow were evaluated in three different conditions: during free breathing in supine position and during controlled breathing (at 0.15 Hz), in supine and upright position, and analysed by autoregressive spectral analysis [low- (around 0.1 Hz) and high-frequency (respiratory) fluctuations, LF and HF, markers of sympathetic and vagal activity, respectively]. 3. High-altitude residents showed in supine position a higher RR than acclimatized lowlanders, similar to sea-level residents. RR variability was reduced in acclimatized lowlanders compared to both high-altitude residents and sea level residents. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) did not show significant differences between the three groups. High altitude residents showed in supine lower LF in RR signal compared to sea-level residents, and, compared to acclimatized lowlanders, higher HF and lower LF/HF ratio; high-altitude residents showed a reduction in skin microcirculation variability compared to sea-level residents, but this was eight fold greater than in acclimatized lowlander, thus indicating a much greater vasoconstriction in acclimatized lowlanders than in high-altitude residents. 4. In upright position, high-altitude residents showed the same behaviour as sea-level residents, with increase in LF-RR, and decrease in HF and LF-SBP. Acclimatized lowlanders showed similar directional trends though not significant changes for RR-LF. 5. After one week of acclimatization, lowlanders still manifested sympathetic activation and skin vasoconstriction; high-altitude residents did not show reduced vagal tone compared to sea-level residents, but a mild vasoconstriction appeared to be present. In conclusion, normal or enhanced vagal tone and preserved vasomotion are probably evidence of adaptation at high altitude hypoxia.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

The Aicardi syndrome.

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Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗

Echocardiography shows persistent thickness of the wall of the right ventricle in infants at high altitude.

We have applied M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography to infants living at high altitude in La Paz, Bolivia (3800m) and infants living at low altitude in Santa Cruz, Bolivia (400m). At low altitude, the thickness of the anterior wall of the right ventricle decreases during the first month of extrauterine life to a dimension which remains constant for the rest of infancy. At high altitude, the thickness of the anterior wall of the right ventricle at birth is similar to that found at low altitude but does not decrease in the succeeding twelve months. The ratio of the diameter of the aorta to that of the pulmonary artery was higher at low altitude in all age-groups. The observations are consistent with the persistence of a high pulmonary arterial pressure during infancy at high altitude.

Adaptation, Physiological↗