The Prognostic Value of Pulmonary Venous Flow Reversal in Patients with Significant Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation.

: The prognostic significance of pulmonary venous (PV) flow reversal in degenerative mitral regurgitation (dMR) is not well-established. : We aimed to assess whether reversed PV flow is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with significant dMR. : We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients referred to a tertiary center for evaluation of dMR of greater than moderate degree, who had normal sinus rhythm, had a left ventricular ejection fraction of above 60%, and did not suffer from any other major valvular disorders.

Assessment of Adult Patients with Long COVID Manifestations Suspected as Cardiovascular: A Single-Center Experience.

: Persistent symptoms affect a subset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors. Some of these may be cardiovascular (CV)-related. : To assess the burden of objective CV morbidity among, and to explore the short-term course experienced by, COVID-19 patients with post-infectious symptomatology suspected as CV.

Increased risk of non-hematological cancer in young patients with aortic stenosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: We have previously reported an increased risk for non-hematological malignancies in young patients with moderate or severe aortic stenosis (AS). These findings were the result of a post-hoc analysis from a large echocardiography database and needed verification. Our aim was to determine, using a different study population, whether young patients with AS are at increased risk for cancer.

Temporary Trends in Fever following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Objectives: Fever following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a common phenomenon, attributed mostly to inflammatory response which may impact outcome. Systemic inflammatory response may be triggered by multiple factors, most associated with the TAVI procedure itself. However, there are no data regarding the incidence of fever following TAVI in contemporary era with newer generation devices.

Effect of image quality on accuracy of two-dimensional strain echocardiography for diagnosing ischemic chest pain: a 2DSPER multicenter trial substudy.

Few data exist regarding the effect of image quality on measurements of two-dimensional longitudinal strain (2DLS). In the 2DLS for Diagnosing Chest Pain in the Emergency Room (2DSPER) multicenter study, 2DLS was not useful for ruling out acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this substudy was to determine the effect of 2D image quality on the diagnostic accuracy of 2DLS for ACS.

Relation of Left Ventricular Fractional Shortening to Needfor Permanent Pacemaker After Transcatheter AorticValve Implantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) can potentially alter conduction system function due to the mechanical force applied to the conduction system by the proximal edge of the valve, particularly the CoreValve. Some reasons for post-TAVI advanced atrioventricular block have been identified. We investigated whether the degree of the motion of the basal left ventricular (LV) walls impacted the development of advanced atrioventricular block post-TAVI.

Two-dimensional strain echocardiography for diagnosing chest pain in the emergency room: a multicentre prospective study by the Israeli echo research group.

Aims: Left ventricular (LV) two-dimensional longitudinal strain (2DLS) analysis by echocardiography has been suggested as a useful tool for the detection of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Our aim was to determine whether 2DLS analysis could assist in triage of patients with chest pain (CP) in the emergency department (ED).

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled patients presenting to the ED with CP and suspected ACS but without a diagnostic ECG or elevated troponin.

Outcomes of Patients at Estimated Low, Intermediate, and High Risk Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation for Aortic Stenosis.

Intermediate- or low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis were excluded from earlier transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) clinical trials; however, they are already being treated by TAVI despite a lack of data regarding the safety and efficacy in these patients. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of TAVI in patients at intermediate or low risk. Patients undergoing TAVI during 2008 to 2014 were included into a shared database (n = 1,327).

[Re-implantation of a mitraclip device in a patient with recurrent mitral regurgitation].

Mitral regurgitation is a common disease in patients with cardiomyopathies, constituting poor prognosis when present. In patients with an increased risk for surgery, a minimally-invasive, percutaneous procedure currently exists, in the form of an edge-to-edge repair technique using the MitraClip device. This approach allows for great flexibility in specific situations, such as in the addition of another clip when necessary, either during the procedure or after a follow-up period.

Efficacy and Safety of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Aortic Stenosis Patients With Extreme Age.

Objectives: To investigate the in-hospital and long-term outcomes of patients at extreme age with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: A total of 276 consecutive patients with a mean age of 82.2 ± 5.

Tricuspid valve replacement: the effect of gender on operative results.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) is considered a high-risk operation. The study aim was to analyze the authors' eight-year experience with TVR and to characterize the specific risk factors for this operation.

Methods: Between January 2005 and August 2012, a total of 67 patients (46 females, 21 males; mean age 58 +/- 14 years; range: 25-86 years) underwent TVR at the authors' center.

Comprehensive prospective cognitive and physical function assessment in elderly patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objective: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is occasionally associated with stroke and silent cerebral ischemia, which may affect cognitive and functional performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in cognitive performance and functional status following TAVI.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive prospective functional, cognitive and quality of life (QOL) evaluation in consecutive patients who underwent TAVI using the CoreValve device (Medtronic Inc.

The frequency and prognostic impact of fever following transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objectives: This study sought to explore the frequency and prognostic implications of infectious and noninfectious fever following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study including 194 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI at our institution. We identified and characterized all patients who developed fever within the first 72 h following the procedure.

Mid-term echocardiographic progression of patients with moderate aortic regurgitation: implications for aortic valve surgery.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Replacement of the aortic valve for moderate aortic regurgitation (AR) as an adjunct to another cardiac surgery, primarily for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or mitral valve replacement or repair, remains the subject of much debate. The study aim was to monitor the progression rate of moderate AR by means of echocardiography, and to reveal the need for future surgical intervention.

Methods: A total of 262 consecutive patients (162 males, 100 females; mean age 65 +/- 15 years; range: 21-93 years) with moderate AR and no more than mild aortic stenosis, were followed for a mean of 42 +/- 31 months.

Infective endocarditis in the transcatheter aortic valve replacement era: comprehensive review of a rare complication.

In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a revolutionary alternative for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis in patients at high risk for surgery. Prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis is a serious complication after SAVR with high morbidity and mortality. Although numerous TAVR procedures have been performed worldwide, infective endocarditis (IE) after TAVR was reported in the literature in few cases only and in 0% to 2.

Does gender affect the rates of abnormal exercise stress echocardiography in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis?

Background And Aim Of The Study: Patient gender can affect not only the clinical manifestations of coronary artery disease (CAD) but also the clinician's interpretation of the symptoms and results of exercise stress tests for management decisions. This may be true also for aortic stenosis (AS), given its many shared features with CAD and similar symptom-based management. The study aim was to evaluate the effect of gender on the assessment of severe asymptomatic AS by exercise stress echocardiography (ESE).

Estimation of left ventricular function using a novel acoustic-based device.

Background: We examined the feasibility of estimating left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by a novel acoustic-based device [vibration response imaging (VRI); Deep Breeze].

Methods: One hundred and forty-one subjects (117 patients and 24 healthy volunteers; age 55 ± 15 years, 82% men) were examined by both VRI and echocardiography. LVEF was determined by echocardiography (echo-LVEF) using the biplane Simpson's method.

Percutaneous implantation of the self-expandable CoreValve for high risk patients with severe aortic valve stenosis: early Israeli experience.

Background: The prevalence of aortic stenosis increases with advancing age. Once symptoms occur the prognosis in patients with severe aortic stenosis is poor. The current and recommended treatment of choice for these patients is surgical aortic valve replacement.

The association of left atrial volume with exercise capacity in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation.

Background: Left atrial volume and exercise capacity are strong predictors of cardiovascular risk. Decreased exercise capacity is expected when LAV is increased due to its association with abnormal left ventricular filling pressure. However, LAV enlargement is expected in chronic mitral regurgitation as well.

Adenosine A3 receptor-mediated cardioprotection against doxorubicin-induced mitochondrial damage.

Cardiotoxicity associated with doxorubicin (DOX) treatment limits the therapeutic efficiency of this drug against cancer. 2-Chloro-N(6)-(3-iodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (Cl-IB-MECA), a selective agonist of A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)R), reduces DOX toxicity in newborn rat cultured cardiomyocytes. The study's aim was to determine whether the protection demonstrated by Cl-IB-MECA attenuates cardiac depression in vivo.

Obstructive left-sided prosthetic valve thrombosis.

Obstructive prosthetic valve thrombosis is a serious complication in patients with prosthetic heart valves. It should be suspected in patients with worsening functional class, embolic phenomena, and inadequate anticoagulation. TTE is very informative and the most frequent modality to begin with.

Ras inhibition attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Myocardial injury, developed after a period of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) results in the destruction of functional heart tissue, this being replaced by scar tissue. Intracellular signaling pathways mediating cardiomyocyte death are partially understood and involve the activation of Ras. p38-MAPK, JNK and Mst-1 are downstream effectors of Ras protein.

Hemolysis associated with prosthetic heart valves: a review.

Hemolysis is one of the potentially serious complications of prosthetic heart valves. It is usually associated with either structural deterioration or paravalvular leak. Mild, compensated hemolysis associated with mechanical heart valves is not uncommon even in the current era.

Tricuspid regurgitation in mitral valve disease incidence, prognostic implications, mechanism, and management.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with mitral valve (MV) disease is associated with poor outcome and predicts poor survival, heart failure, and reduced functional capacity. It is common if left untreated after MV replacement mainly in rheumatic patients, but it is also common in patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation. It is less common, however, in those with degenerative mitral regurgitation.