The world's first wiki where authorship really matters (Nature Genetics, 2008). Due credit and reputation for authors. Imagine a global collaborative knowledge base for original thoughts. Search thousands of articles and collaborate with scientists around the globe.

wikigene or wiki gene protein drug chemical gene disease author authorship tracking collaborative publishing evolutionary knowledge reputation system wiki2.0 global collaboration genes proteins drugs chemicals diseases compound
Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)
 
 
 

Addition of valsartan to an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor improves cardiac sympathetic nerve activity and left ventricular function in patients with congestive heart failure.

We determined whether the addition of the angiotensin-receptor blocker valsartan to an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor improves cardiac sympathetic nerve activity and left ventricular function in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: Thirty-two patients with CHF (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] < 40%; mean, 33% +/- 6%) were treated with an ACE inhibitor and a loop diuretic. Sixteen patients (group A) were randomized to additionally receive valsartan (40-80 mg/d), and the remaining 16 patients (group B) continued their current regimen. Patients were studied before and 6 mo after treatment. The delayed heart-to-mediastinum count ratio (H/M ratio), delayed total defect score (TDS), and washout rate (WR) were determined from (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine images. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and LVEF were determined by echocardiography, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class was estimated. RESULTS: Before treatment, TDS, H/M ratio, WR, LVEDV, LVEF, and NYHA functional class were similar in both groups. After treatment in group A, TDS decreased from 37 +/- 8 to 31 +/- 9 (P < 0.001), H/M ratio increased from 1.66 +/- 0.23 to 1.81 +/- 0.23 (P < 0.001), and WR decreased from 47% +/- 9% to 39% +/- 10% (P < 0.01). In addition, the LVEDV decreased from 193 +/- 36 mL to 169 +/- 51 mL (P < 0.005), and LVEF increased from 32% +/- 7% to 41% +/- 13% (P = 0.0005). In group B, these parameters did not change significantly. NYHA functional class improved in both groups (in group A, from 3.3 +/- 0.5 to 1.7 +/- 0.6 [P < 0.0005]; in group B, from 3.3 +/- 0.5 to 2.4 +/- 0.6; [P < 0.005]). The improvement was significantly greater in group A than in group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of valsartan to an ACE inhibitor improves cardiac sympathetic nerve activity, left ventricular function, and symptoms in patients with CHF.[1]

References

 
WikiGenes - Universities