Right ventricular-pulmonary arterial coupling in schistosomiasis associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Schistosomiasis associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (Sch-PAH) is a highly relevant form of pulmonary hypertension, particularly in developing countries. Compared with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), Sch-PAH has a better prognosis, though without identified mechanisms that justify this clinical course. Right ventricular-arterial pulmonary (RV-PA) coupling, expressed by the relationship between right ventricular contractility and afterload, has been studied as a potential marker of cardiac response to pulmonary vascular disease.

Surgical Bailout in Patients Undergoing Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Incidence, Trends, and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) harbors the risk of periprocedural complications that require emergent cardiac surgery, or "surgical bailout." Surgical bailout intends to be lifesaving but is associated with high mortality. This has given rise to discussion on the necessity of surgical backup during TAVR.

Ghrelin Recruits the Endocannabinoid System to Modulate Food Reward.

Ghrelin enhances feeding by activating the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). In the brain, GHSRs are expressed in regions responsible for regulating food motivation including the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Endogenous cannabinoids also promote food-seeking behaviors through the cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB-1Rs) in brain regions including the VTA.

Blood Pressure Control and Clinical Outcomes After Renal Denervation Through Irrigated Catheter Radiofrequency Ablation in Patients with Resistant Hypertension: A Case Series with Up to 10 Years of Follow-Up.

Introduction: The long-term efficacy of renal denervation (RDN) has not been extensively documented.

Aim: To describe the long-term follow-up of patients after RDN.

Methods: We evaluated patients with resistant hypertension (RH) who underwent RDN with irrigated catheter from 2012 to 2014 at a single centre.