BACKGROUND In patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), a beta-blocker is generally added to a regimen containing an angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It is unknown whether beta-blockade as initial therapy may be as useful. METHODS AND RESULTS We randomized 1010 patients with mild to moderate CHF and left ventricular ejection fraction < or =35%, who were not receiving ACE inhibi...

Background—In patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), a -blocker is generally added to a regimen containing an angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It is unknown whether -blockade as initial therapy may be as useful. Methods and Results—We randomized 1010 patients with mild to moderate CHF and left ventricular ejection fraction 35%, who were not receiving ACE inhibitor, -blocker, o...

BACKGROUND Treatment with specific beta-blockers reduces mortality and hospitalisation in heart failure. AIM To describe trends and inequities in beta-blocker prescribing for heart failure. DESIGN OF STUDY Repeated cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative primary care database (DIN-LINK). SETTING A total of 152 UK general practices. METHOD Prescribing of beta-blockers bet...

BACKGROUND There is conflicting information regarding the effects of selective and nonselective beta-blocker treatment in patients with COPD. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS This nested case-control study used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We included COPD patients who used inhalation steroid and beta-blockers between 1998 and 2010. From this cohort, there were 16,067 patie...

Background No-reflow is an important factor as it predicts a poor outcome in patients undergoing primary angioplasty. In comparison with patients attaining TIMI 3 flow, patients with no-reflow have an increased incidence of ventricular arrhythmias, early congestive cardiac failure, cardiac rupture and cardiac death. As such, it is of paramount importance to consider strategies to prevent the oc...

BACKGROUND Although some trials assessed the efficacy and safety of the α-blocker in facilitating renal and ureteral stones expulsion after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), the role of the α-blocker in facilitating upper urinary calculi expulsion after ESWL remain controversial. AIMS To determine the efficacy and safety of the α-blocker in facilitating renal and ureteral stones e...