Dr. Meilman studies how various medications and patient factors affect heart health, particularly in relation to blood clotting and recovery from heart procedures. He looks closely at the effectiveness of drugs like prasugrel and clopidogrel in preventing blood clots in patients undergoing treatments like coronary stenting, which places a small tube in blocked arteries to improve blood flow. Additionally, he investigates how psychological factors, such as a person's attitude or hostility levels, can impact recovery and the likelihood of heart problems after procedures like angioplasty.
Key findings
Patients who stopped taking prasugrel and aspirin saw their platelet levels more than double, increasing their risk for future heart issues.
Prasugrel significantly reduced platelet clumping compared to clopidogrel, with a study involving 133 patients showing its efficacy, but also noting a higher risk of bleeding.
In his study on hostility and post-angioplasty blockages, he found that 36.6% of patients developed new heart artery blockages, with those having high hostility nearly 2.5 times more likely to experience this.
The introduction of a new steerable catheter led to a 100% success rate in initial angioplasty attempts after just six procedures, improving access to treatment for coronary artery disease.
In heart attack treatments, 74% of patients given streptokinase improved blood flow, compared to only 6% with nitroglycerin alone, indicating a significant difference in immediate treatment effectiveness.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Meilman study heart attack treatments?
Yes, he has researched different treatments for heart attacks, including the effectiveness of medications like streptokinase.
What medications has Dr. Meilman researched?
He has focused on medications like prasugrel and clopidogrel that prevent blood clots in patients undergoing heart procedures.
Is Dr. Meilman's work relevant to patients at risk of heart disease?
Absolutely, his findings help patients understand the importance of medication adherence and how personal factors can influence their recovery.
Has he studied psychological factors related to heart disease?
Yes, his research includes how traits such as hostility can affect the likelihood of experiencing complications after heart procedures.
What is coronary stenting, and how is it related to his work?
Coronary stenting is a procedure to open blocked arteries, and Dr. Meilman studies medications that improve outcomes for patients undergoing this treatment.
Publications in plain English
Platelet inhibition with prasugrel (CS-747) compared with clopidogrel in patients undergoing coronary stenting: the subset from the JUMBO study.
2006
Postgraduate medical journal
Serebruany VL, Midei MG, Meilman H, Malinin AI, Lowry DR
Plain English This study looked at how well prasugrel, a new medication, prevents platelets in the blood from clumping together compared to clopidogrel in patients who had coronary stents placed. The research involved nine patients using different doses of prasugrel and compared their platelet activity to 124 historical patients who were given clopidogrel. The results showed that prasugrel was better at stopping platelet clumping, but this stronger effect raises concerns about a higher risk of bleeding, especially over the long term.
Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing coronary stenting by identifying which medication may provide better blood flow management.
Rebound platelet activation after termination of prasugrel and aspirin therapy due to confirmed non-compliance in patient enrolled in the JUMBO Trial.
2006
International journal of clinical practice
Serebruany VL, Midei MG, Meilman H, Malinin AI, Lowry DR
Plain English This study examined a 48-year-old man who experienced a heart issue and was prescribed aspirin and prasugrel, medications that prevent blood clots by reducing platelet activity. After stopping his medication due to minor side effects, his platelet activity increased significantly—more than double normal levels—showing that he was at a higher risk of further vascular problems. This underscores the importance of patients sticking to their prescribed medications to maintain their health and avoid complications.
Who this helps: This helps patients who are at risk of cardiovascular events and their doctors who manage their treatment.
Hostility predicts restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
1996
Mayo Clinic proceedings
Goodman M, Quigley J, Moran G, Meilman H, Sherman M
Plain English This study looked at how a person's level of hostility affects the likelihood of having another blockage in the heart arteries after a procedure called angioplasty. Out of 41 patients who had the procedure, 36.6% developed new blockages, and those with high hostility levels were nearly 2.5 times more likely to have this problem compared to those with lower hostility scores. Understanding this relationship is important because it helps identify patients who might benefit from stress management programs to reduce the chances of future heart issues.
Who this helps: This helps heart disease patients, especially those undergoing angioplasty.
Changed learning curve for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Implication for the future treatment of coronary artery disease.
1985
The American journal of medicine
Feit A, Reddy CV, Khan R, Meilman H, El-Sherif N
Plain English This study focused on how a new type of catheter used in coronary angioplasty affects the success rates of the procedure. Researchers found that after performing just six procedures with the previous catheter, they achieved a 100% success rate in reaching and crossing blockages in the blood vessels with the new steerable catheter during their next 20 attempts. This improvement means that doctors can expect much higher success rates when starting angioplasty, which could make this treatment more accessible to patients with coronary artery disease.
Who this helps: Patients with coronary artery disease.
Effects of intracoronary streptokinase and intracoronary nitroglycerin infusion on coronary angiographic patterns and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
1984
The New England journal of medicine
Rentrop KP, Feit F, Blanke H, Stecy P, Schneider R +5 more
Plain English This study looked at different treatments for heart attacks, comparing drugs called streptokinase and nitroglycerin to standard therapy without immediate imaging. They found that 74% of patients given streptokinase experienced improvement in blood flow in their coronary artery, while only 6% of those treated with nitroglycerin alone saw similar results. Ultimately, there was no significant difference in survival rates after six months between patients treated with streptokinase (21% died) and those who weren’t (10% died), indicating that more research is needed to determine the best treatment approaches.
Who this helps: This information is useful for patients suffering from heart attacks and their doctors.
Release of nucleosides from canine and human hearts as an index of prior ischemia.
1979
The American journal of cardiology
Fox AC, Reed GE, Meilman H, Silk BB
Plain English This study looked at how certain molecules, called nucleosides, are released from the hearts of dogs and humans when their blood flow is temporarily blocked (ischemia). It found that during and after the blockage, levels of adenosine, inosine, and hypoxanthine rose significantly, reaching up to 1,570 nmol of inosine after five minutes of ischemia in dogs, and similar patterns were seen in patients' hearts after cardiac surgery. This matters because measuring these nucleosides can provide valuable information about heart health and previous blood flow problems, which complements existing tests.
Who this helps: This helps doctors assess heart conditions in patients.
Comparative studies on synaptosomes: Applicability of the rapid method for preparing synaptosomes to elasmobranch brain.
1976
Neurochemical research
Simon EJ, Whittaker VP, Meilman H, Sher H, Vickers G +1 more
Plain English This study looked at a new, fast method for preparing synaptosomes, which are small parts of nerve cells crucial for brain function, from the brain of a dogfish fish. Researchers found that this method effectively separates well-formed synaptosomes from less well-formed ones using specific techniques, making the preparation process quicker—taking only about 1.5 hours. This matters because having a reliable and efficient way to prepare synaptosomes will help in future research on brain metabolism and function.
Who this helps: This helps researchers studying fish brain function and potentially developing treatments for nerve-related issues.