Giant gossypiboma presenting as a pelvic mass.

Gossypiboma is a foreign object, such as a mass of cotton matrix or a sponge, that is left behind in a body cavity during surgery. It is uncommon, mostly asymptomatic, and hard to diagnose. It may be incorrectly diagnosed preoperatively, which can lead to unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures and operations.

Angiography after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest without ST-Segment Elevation.

Background: Myocardial infarction is a frequent cause of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, the benefits of early coronary angiography and revascularization in resuscitated patients without electrocardiographic evidence of ST-segment elevation are unclear.

Methods: In this multicenter trial, we randomly assigned 554 patients with successfully resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of possible coronary origin to undergo either immediate coronary angiography (immediate-angiography group) or initial intensive care assessment with delayed or selective angiography (delayed-angiography group).

Impact of HAS-BLED Score on outcome after percutaneous left atrial appendage closure: insights from the German Left Atrial Appendage Occluder Registry LAARGE.

Aim: Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure has been established as alternative stroke prophylaxis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and high bleeding risk. However, little is known regarding the outcome after LAA closure depending on the HAS-BLED score.

Methods: A sub-analysis of the prospective, multicenter, Left-Atrium-Appendage Occluder Register-GErmany (LAARGE) registry was performed assessing three different groups with respect to the HAS-BLED score (0-2 [group 1] vs.

COVID-19 and the impact of arterial hypertension-An analysis of the international HOPE COVID-19 Registry (Italy-Spain-Germany).

Background: A systematic analysis of concomitant arterial hypertension in COVID-19 patients and the impact of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have not been studied in a large multicentre cohort yet. We conducted a subanalysis from the international HOPE Registry (https://hopeprojectmd.com, NCT04334291) comparing COVID-19 in presence and absence of arterial hypertension.

Foetoscopy-assisted balloon valvuloplasty in a human foetus with disadvantageous intrauterine position: a case report.

Background: Some foetuses scheduled for balloon valvuloplasty present with unfavourable lies that render a successful procedure unlikely or impossible. In these situations, foetal posturing previously has been achieved by maternal laparotomy. As a less invasive means, we demonstrate the feasibility of a minimally invasive foetoscopic approach.

Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on Outcome in Takotsubo Syndrome: Data From the International Takotsubo Registry.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for mortality. The prevalence, clinical correlates, and prognostic impact of AF in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) have not yet been investigated in a large patient cohort. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, clinical correlates, and prognostic impact of AF in patients with TTS.

Impact of smoking on COVID-19 outcomes: a HOPE Registry subanalysis.

Background: Smoking has been associated with poorer outcomes in relation to COVID-19. Smokers have higher risk of mortality and have a more severe clinical course. There is paucity of data available on this issue, and a definitive link between smoking and COVID-19 prognosis has yet to be established.

TRPV1 activation and internalization is part of the LPS-induced inflammation in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.

The non-selective cation channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is expressed throughout the cardiovascular system. Recent evidence shows a role for TRPV1 in inflammatory processes. The role of TRPV1 for myocardial inflammation has not been established yet.

Biofilm addition improves sand strength over a wide range of saturations.

Bio-mediated ground improvement is an attractive alternative to traditional admixtures for strength improvement of shallow surfaces because it is environmentally friendly. Since biofilms contain extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), they can be considered as an alternative to current technologies to improve soil strength. EPS containing biofilms are porous materials with charged surfaces, and therefore adsorption and capillary condensation can result in water retention.

Apixaban versus PhenpRocoumon: Oral AntiCoagulation plus antiplatelet tHerapy in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Atrial Fibrillation (APPROACH-ACS-AF): Rationale and design of the prospective randomized parallel-group, open-label, blinded-endpoint, superiority, multicenter-trial of a triple therapy versus a dual therapy in patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Acute Coronary Syndrome undergoing coronary stenting.

Background: A regimen of dual (DAT) vs. triple (TAT) antithrombotic therapy reduces bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, recent evidence suggests that DAT may be associated with an increased ischemic risk.

Effect of Anemia on the Prognosis of Patients with Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias.

This study evaluates the prognostic impact of anemia in patients presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The present longitudinal, observational, registry-based, monocentric cohort study included retrospectively all consecutive patients presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias on admission from 2002 to 2016. Anemic patients (hemoglobin levels <12.

Gender Differences in the Presentation and Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19.

Gender-related differences in COVID-19 clinical presentation, disease progression, and mortality have not been adequately explored. We analyzed the clinical profile, presentation, treatments, and outcomes of patients according to gender in the HOPE-COVID-19 International Registry. Among 2,798 enrolled patients, 1,111 were women (39.

Risk stratification of patients with Brugada syndrome: the impact of myocardial strain analysis using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking.

Objective: This study evaluated the prognostic significance of cardiac magnetic resonance myocardial feature tracking (CMR-FT) in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) to detect subclinical alterations and predict major adverse events (MAE).

Methods: CMR was performed in 106 patients with BrS and 25 healthy controls. Biventricular global strain analysis was assessed using CMR-FT.

Incidence and Clinical Impact of Right Ventricular Involvement (Biventricular Ballooning) in Takotsubo Syndrome: Results From the GEIST Registry.

Background: The short- and long-term prognosis of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) presenting with right ventricular (RV) involvement remains poorly understood.

Research Question: What is the incidence and clinical outcome of RV involvement in TTS?

Study Design And Methods: This study analyzed 839 consecutive patients with TTS (758 female subjects and 81 male subjects) in a multicenter registry. RV involvement was defined as wall motion abnormality of the RV free wall, with or without apical involvement.

Impact of atrial fibrillation pattern on outcomes after left atrial appendage closure: lessons from the prospective LAARGE registry.

Background: Non-paroxysmal (NPAF) forms of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been reported to be associated with an increased risk for systemic embolism or death.

Methods: Comparison of procedural details and long-term outcomes in patients (pts) with paroxysmal AF (PAF) against controls with NPAF in the prospective, multicentre observational registry of patients undergoing LAAC (LAARGE).

Results: A total of 638 pts (PAF 274 pts, NPAF 364 pts) were enrolled.

Treatment of atrial fibrillation with doxapram: TASK-1 potassium channel inhibition as a novel pharmacological strategy.

Aims: TASK-1 (K2P3.1) two-pore-domain potassium channels are atrial-specific and significantly up-regulated in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, contributing to AF-related electrical remodelling. Inhibition of TASK-1 in cardiomyocytes of AF patients was shown to counteract AF-related action potential duration shortening.

Effect of rhinophototherapy on nasal congestion in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to objectively and subjectively evaluate the effects of adding rhinophototherapy to intranasal beclomethasone dipropionate to treat nasal congestion in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Method: Seventy-five seasonal allergic rhinitis patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in Group 1 received intranasal beclomethasone dipropionate for two weeks and patients in Group 2 had rhinophototherapy added to the same medical therapy as Group 1.

Effects of Antiarrhythmic Drugs on hERG Gating in Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes From a Patient With Short QT Syndrome Type 1.

The short QT syndrome type 1 (SQT1) is linked to hERG channel mutations (e.g., N588K).

Narrative review of metabolomics in cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are accompanied by disorders in the cardiac metabolism. Furthermore, comorbidities often associated with cardiovascular disease can alter systemic and myocardial metabolism contributing to worsening of cardiac performance and health status. Biomarkers such as natriuretic peptides or troponins already support diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients with cardiovascular diseases and are represented in international guidelines.

Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias in implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients.

Background: Data regarding recurrences of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients according to atrial fibrillation is limited.

Objective: To assess the prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation on recurrences of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients.

Methods: A large retrospective registry was used, including all ICD recipients with episodes of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation from 2002 to 2016.