Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors improve long-term atrial fibrillation-free survival after catheter ablation.

Although sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are known to reduce the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and AF-related adverse events, evidence on their prognostic effect in patients undergoing catheter ablation (CA) for AF is limited. In a single-center, 614 patients (mean age 58.1±9.

Transseptal Puncture and Cryoballoon Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Atrial Septal Occluder or Atrial Septal Defect Surgical Repair: A Single Center Experience.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in patients with atrial septal defect (ASD). Cryoballoon ablation (CA) is a safe and efficient method for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation in the treatment of AF. Achieving left atrial access may be difficult in patients with atrial septal occluders (ASO) or surgical repair of ASD.

Evolving Role of Coronary Collaterals in STEMI Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis of Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Phases.

Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a critical condition where coronary collaterals can mitigate myocardial damage. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic introduced unique challenges in STEMI management, potentially affecting outcomes. This study evaluates the efficacy of coronary collaterals during the pandemic compared to the post-pandemic period.

The impact of the Naples Prognostic Score on the short- and long-term prognosis of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Preoperative systemic inflammation and nutritional status have been shown to affect prognosis in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In this study, we investigated the effect of the Naples Prognostic Score (NPS), which consists of four different parameters including these two components on short- and long-term prognosis in patients undergoing TAVI.

Methods: In 343 patients (mean age 78.

Relationship between fragmented QRS complex and early left ventricular dysfunction after mitral valve repair.

Background: Preoperative left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (PreLVEF) and preoperative LV end-systolic diameter (PreESD) are known predictors for postoperative LV dysfunction after mitral valve repair (MVR). Fragmented QRS (fQRS) evaluated in 12-derivation electrocardiography has widely been accepted as a sign of myocardial fibrosis. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between fQRS in preoperative 12‑lead electrocardiography (ECG) and postoperative LV dysfunction that develop after MVR in patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation (MR) due to mitral valve prolapse (MVP).

Prognostic impact of main pulmonary artery to ascending aorta diameter ratio in patients with severe aortic stenosis underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular dysfunction are poor prognostic predictors in patients underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Aims: The prognostic impact of the main pulmonary artery/ascending aorta diameter ratio (MPA/AOr), measured simply by computed-tomographic angiography (CTA), was investigated in this patient group.

Methods: A total of 374 retrospectively evaluated patients (mean age 78.

The Influence of Preoperative Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Arterial Coupling on Short- and Long-Term Prognosis in Patients Who Underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

The present study evaluated the prognostic significance of right ventricular-pulmonary arterial (RV-PA) coupling, assessed by the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to systolic pulmonary artery pressure (TAPSE/sPAP) ratio, in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis (AS). This retrospective, single-center study involved 403 patients (mean age: 78.2 ± 8.

Rapid recovery of poststroke cardiac autonomic dysfunction: Causes to be considered.

Background And Purpose: Acute stroke frequently causes cardiovascular-autonomic dysfunction (CAD). Studies of CAD recovery are inconclusive, whereas poststroke arrhythmias may wane within 72 h. We evaluated whether poststroke CAD recovers within 72 h upon stroke onset in association with neurological improvement or increased use of cardiovascular medication.

Influence of collaterals on the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and serum NT-proBNP levels in patients with coronary chronic total occlusion.

Objective: Although numerous studies have shown the protective effects of the well-developed coronary collaterals on left ventricular functions, the relationship between collateral grade and left ventricular end diastolic pressure has not been studied in chronic total occlusion patients. Also, there are conflicting data on the effect of collaterals on NT-proBNP levels. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between coronary collateral circulation and left ventricular end diastolic pressure and NT-proBNP levels in chronic total occlusion patients.

Status epilepticus in the elderly-A retrospective study on 120 patients.

Purpose: Status epilepticus (SE) is one of the most common neurological emergencies with a high incidence in the elderly. Major determinants of prognosis are patients' age, duration of SE and underlying etiology. We aimed identifying differences in clinical presentation of SE, etiologies and outcome between patients (pts.

A rare cause of cardiogenic shock: variant angina.

Variant angina (VA) is a clinical syndrome caused by spontaneous vasospasm of the epicardial coronary artery which is characterized by episodes of angina. Endothelial dysfunction and neurohormonal hyperactivity are important factors in pathogenesis of VA. Although patient prognosis is good, VA may be one of the reasons of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in case of persistent ST segment elevation and malignant arrhythmias.

Kinking of the aorta with calcified aortic valve stenosis: A case report.

Congenital kinking of the aorta is an uncommon anomaly consisting of elongation of the aortic arch with kinking at the level of the ductal ligament. Herein we report a case of congenital kinking of the aorta with calcified aortic valve stenosis. The combination of a kinked aorta with severe calcified valve stenosis is very unusual.

Radial approach is better than the femoral one in anomalous high RCA take-off from the left-anterior part of the ascending aorta.

An anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) with a high anterior take-off from ascending aorta is an uncommon and technically challenging vessel to cannulate. There are only a few reports in the literature describing this anomaly. Some of them consider it as a "very rare" or even "extremely rare" anomaly.

High NIHSS values predict impairment of cardiovascular autonomic control.

Background And Purpose: Stroke is frequently associated with autonomic dysfunction, which causes secondary cardiovascular complications. Early diagnosis of autonomic imbalance prevents complications, but it is only available at specialized centers. Widely available surrogate markers are needed.

Cloning and functional characterization of the amphibian mesotocin receptor, a member of the oxytocin/vasopressin receptor superfamily.

Mesotocin is the oxytocin-like hormone found in most terrestrial vertebrates from lungfishes to marsupials, which includes all non-mammalian tetrapods (amphibians, reptiles, and birds). It has the largest distribution in vertebrates after vasotocin found in all non-mammalian vertebrates and isotocin identified in bony fishes. In this study, we report the cloning and functional characterization of the cDNA for the mesotocin receptor (MTR) from the urinary bladder of the toad Bufo marinus.

Organization and chromosomal localization of the gene for the human bombesin receptor subtype expressed in pregnant uterus.

The gene encoding the human homologue of the guinea pig uterine bombesin receptor [(1992) Eur. J. Biochem.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of V2 [8-lysine] vasopressin and oxytocin receptors from a pig kidney cell line.

[Arg8]vasopressin and oxytocin are the two main members of the neurohypophysial hormone family found to be present in nearly all mammals. [Lys8]vasopressin ([Lys8]VP) has been identified as the antidiuretic hormone in pig and some marsupial families. The porcine-derived kidney epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1, expresses both [Lys8]VP receptors coupled to the activation of adenylate cyclase (V2 receptors) and oxytocin receptors.

Molecular cloning of a new bombesin receptor subtype expressed in uterus during pregnancy.

The homology screening approach has been used to clone a new member of the guanine-nucleotide-binding-protein-coupled receptor superfamily from guinea pig uterus. The cloned cDNA encodes a 399-amino-acid protein and shows the highest amino acid similarity to members of the bombesin receptor family; 52% and 47% similarity to the gastrin-releasing-peptide (GRP) receptor and the neuromedin-B receptor, respectively. Binding experiments with the stably transfected LLC-PK1 cell line expressing the new receptor protein confirmed the bombesin-like nature of the cloned receptor.

Molecular cloning of substance P receptor cDNA from guinea-pig uterus.

A cDNA encoding guinea-pig uterine substance P (SP) receptor has been isolated using the homology screening approach. Northern blot analysis reveals that the corresponding mRNA, of approx. 4.

[Identification of bacterial clones that encode cow's caseins by direct immunological screening of the cDNA library].

A sensitive immunoassay was used to identify recombinant DNA plasmids carrying cDNA fragments of bovine caseins in the cDNA library from rRNA of bovine mammary glands. Colonies grown on nitrocellulose filters were lysed in situ and proteins from the lysates were blotted onto CNBr-activated filter paper. Antigens covalently bound to the CNBr-activated paper or bound to the nitrocellulose filters were detected by reaction with antiserum to caseins, followed by 125I-labeled protein A from Staphylococcus aureus and autoradiography.

[mRNA localization and content in bovine kininogen].

The bradykinin (BK) gene chemically synthesized and cloned into pBR 322 was used for the study of tissue localization and quantitation of mRNA coding for the BK precursor, kininogen. Poly(A+)-mRNAs from bovine liver, spleen, kidney, mammary gland and pancreas were used for dot-hybridization to [32P]DNA of the BK gene or to the plasmid-containing BK gene. The experimental results demonstrate that [32P]DNA of BK is hybridized only to the liver poly(A+)-RNA, which proves the liver to be the main kininogen mRNA-producing tissue.

Identification of bacterial clones encoding bovine caseins by direct immunological screening of the cDNA library.

A sensitive immunoassay was used to identify recombinant plasmids carrying cDNA fragments of bovine caseins in the cDNA library from bovine mammary gland mRNA. Colonies grown on nitrocellulose filters were lysed in situ and proteins from the lysates were blotted onto CNBr-activated cellulose filter paper. Antigens covalently bound to CNBr-activated paper or bound to nitrocellulose filters were detected by reaction with antiserum to caseins, followed by 125I-labelled Staphylococcus aureus protein A and autoradiography.