Real-world survival data of device-related thrombus following left atrial appendage closure: 4-year experience from a single center.

This study aimed to estimate the incidence and risk factors of device-related thrombus (DRT) following percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in real-world practices. Between February 2012 and December 2016, 319 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation underwent percutaneous LAAC using WATCHMAN, WATCHMAN Flx, Amplatzer cardiac plug, and Amulet devices. All patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at a minimum of three time points; periprocedurally, at 45 days, and at 6 months.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure with complex anatomy by using the staged 'kissing-Watchman' technology with double devices.

Background: Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is an efficient alternative of oral anticoagulation to prevent stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Due to complexities of LAA anatomy, a complete closure may not always be obtained with a single device. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the staged 'kissing-Watchman' technology to occlude the LAA with complex anatomy.

Impact of chronic kidney disease on Watchman implantation: experience with 300 consecutive left atrial appendage closures at a single center.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is high in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) has been recognized as an efficient alternative to oral anticoagulation for the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with non-valvular AF (NVAF); however, the long-term safety and efficacy of LAAC in patients with CKD remain unclear. This study was designed to provide data regarding the safety and efficacy of LAAC in NVAF patients with CKD.

Genetic predisposition in patients with hypertension and normal ejection fraction to oxidative stress.

The role of oxidative stress (OXS) due to myocardial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) uncoupling related to oxidative depletion of its cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) emerged in the pathogenesis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We determined the prevalence of six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes encoding enzymes related to OXS, BH4 metabolism, and NOS function in ≥60-year-old 94 patients with hypertension and 18 age-matched controls with normal ejection fraction. Using echocardiography, 56/94 (60%) patients with hypertension had left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (HTDD+ group) and 38/94 (40%) patients had normal LV diastolic function (HTDD- group).

The mechanism of reduced longitudinal left ventricular systolic function in hypertensive patients with normal ejection fraction.

Background: MacIver and Townsend's hypothesis predicts, based on a mathematical model of left ventricular contraction, that preserved absolute radial wall thickening (radWT) due to left ventricular hypertrophy is responsible for the normal ejection fraction in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF).

Methods: We tested the validity of this hypothesis by detailed echocardiography including evaluation of ventricular myocardial strain (S) using speckle tracking imaging in at least 60-year-old 18 controls and 94 hypertensive patients with normal ejection fraction.

Results: Echocardiography revealed no left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in 38 out of 94 (40%) patients with hypertension (HTDD-negative group), and 56 out of 94 (60%) patients had diastolic dysfunction (HTDD-positive groups).

Inflammation and oxidative stress caused by nitric oxide synthase uncoupling might lead to left ventricular diastolic and systolic dysfunction in patients with hypertension.

Objective: To investigate the role of oxidative stress, inflammation, hypercoagulability and neuroendocrine activation in the transition of hypertensive heart disease to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF).

Methods: We performed echocardiography for 112 patients (≥ 60 years old) with normal EF (18 controls and 94 with hypertension), and determined protein carbonylation (PC), and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-I (PAI-I), von Willebrand factor, chromogranin A (cGA) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels from their blood samples.

Results: We found that 40% (38/94) of the patients with hypertension (HT) had no diastolic dysfunction (HTDD-), and 60% (56/94) had diastolic dysfunction (HTDD+).

Chloroquine cardiotoxicity mimicking connective tissue disease heart involvement.

The authors report a case of rare chloroquine cardiotoxicity mimicking connective tissue disease heart involvement in a 56-year-old woman with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) manifested suddenly as third degree A-V block with QT(c) interval prolongation and short torsade de pointes runs ultimately degenerating into ventricular fibrillation. Immunological tests suggested an MCTD flare, implying that cardiac arrest had resulted from myocardial involvement by MCTD. However, QT(c) prolongation is not a characteristic of cardiomyopathy caused by connective tissue disease, unless anti-Ro/SSA positivity is present, but that was not the case.

Multicentric plasmocytic Castleman's disease with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, skin changes syndrome and coexistent human herpes virus-6 infection--a possible relationship.

Authors report a case of Castleman's disease (CD) with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, skin change (POEMS) syndrome. According to the present knowledge, these two rare conditions are often induced by Human Herpes Vírus- 8 (HHV-8) or by Human Immunodefeciency Virus, separately or in combination. In this case, however, HHV-6 viral DNA had been detected in the blood and lymph node samples by PCR.

Short or long survival in multiple myeloma. A simple method for determining the prognosis.

Finding prognostic factors in multiple myeloma is a real challenge. Several attempts might be found in the literature for that purpose but the results are not satisfactory. Therefore, in the current retorpective study authors analyzed the potential prognostic value of some laboratory data in 104 patients with multiple myeloma.

Frequency of carriers of 8.1 ancestral haplotype and its fragments in two Caucasian populations.

Within the human MHC region larger stretches of conserved DNA, called conserved ancestral haplotypes exist. However, many MHC haplotypes contain only fragments of an ancestral haplotype. Little is known, however, on relative distribution of the ancestral haplotypes to their fragments.

Estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) PvuII and XbaI gene polymorphisms in ischemic stroke in a Hungarian population.

Background: Ischemic stroke is a multifactorial disorder with genetic and environmental components. The aim of our study was to investigate whether two polymorphisms of the estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene (ESR1 c.454-397T>C and c.

The HLA 8.1 ancestral haplotype is strongly linked to the C allele of -429T>C promoter polymorphism of receptor of the advanced glycation endproduct (RAGE) gene. Haplotype-independent association of the -429C allele with high hemoglobinA1C levels in diabetic patients.

Previously we reported on strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the mono-S-C4B-RCCX module (mono-S) and the TNF2 allele (both known constituents of the 8.1 ancestral haplotype (8.1 AH)) in two Caucasian populations.