This study provides additional mortality information for the modern-day CCU and should help identify factors that may predict survival.

The results of this study demonstrate that a highly protocolized chest pain unit, using myocardial perfusion imaging as primary diagnostic modality, results in a decreased length of stay and readmission rate.

Telemetry monitoring is a limited resource in most hospitals. Few clinical studies have established firm criteria for inpatient telemetry. At our urban institution, we have developed and incorporated guidelines to identify patients who benefit from cardiac rhythm monitoring. These guidelines serve to minimize inappropriate use of telemetry beds, thereby preventing emergency department overcrowding and ambulance diversion. This improvement in efficiency is achieved without compromising health care.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are used worldwide to help athletes gain muscle mass and strength. Their use and abuse is associated with numerous side effects, including acute myocardial infarction (MI). We report a case of MI in a young 31-year-old bodybuilder. Because of the serious cardiovascular complications of anabolic steroids, physicians should be aware of their abuse and consequences.

The objective of this study was to assess whether statin therapy is associated with a reduction in ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Statins have been shown to be beneficial beyond their cholesterol-lowering effects. These pleiotropic effects have been implicated in the protection against atrial fibrillation and the reduction in appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in patients with coronary artery disease. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate whether statins were associated with a reduction in ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with coronary artery disease or nonischemic cardiomyopathy. The Medline and Cochrane databases were searched for studies in human subjects published in the English language between 1985 and February 2010. Studies were included in our analysis if they provided data regarding the association between the use of statins and the incidence of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) in patients with coronary artery disease or nonischemic cardiomyopathy. The occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias was defined as the VT/VF occurrence or appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy for VT/VF. Of the 166 identified articles, nine prospective studies with 150,953 patients enrolled met our inclusion criteria and were included in this analysis. Using a random effects model, statin therapy was associated with a 31% reduction in the risk of VT/VF when compared with the group not on statin therapy (pooled relative risk = 0.69, 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.83; heterogeneity I² = 57.3%). There was a low likelihood of publication bias in this analysis (Egger's test P = 0.957). Statin use in patients with coronary artery disease or nonischemic cardiomyopathy is associated with a 31% reduction in the development of ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

The mean TID ratio in patients with multi-vessel disease was 1.19. The threshold for an abnormal TID was 1.39 with specificity of 95% and sensitivity of 15% for determining multi-vessel CAD status. We conclude that the level of TID in gated SPECT MPI using regadenoson is associated with the degree of CAD on angiography.

Cardiac metastases from renal cell carcinoma are a well-recognized entity. However, this phenomenon is extremely rare in the absence of vena caval extension. The authors report a patient who after successful resection of renal cell carcinoma presented with left ventricular mass causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. There was also metastatic pericardial and intramyocardial involvement. Such a unique combination of cardiac metastasis, in the same patient, has not been reported previously.

Mitral valve aneurysm is a rare cause of mitral regurgitation, and is usually associated with aortic valve endocarditis. Prompt diagnosis and early surgical treatment can prevent complications such as embolization and rupture of the aneurysm. The authors report a case of aortic valve endocarditis and mitral valve aneurysm in a patient who initially presented with urinary tract infection.