Spanish Results of the Second European Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Survey (CRT-Survey II).

Introduction And Objectives: We describe the results for Spain of the Second European Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Survey (CRT-Survey II) and compare them with those of the other participating countries.

Methods: We included patients undergoing CRT device implantation between October 2015 and December 2016 in 36 participating Spanish centers. We registered the patients' baseline characteristics, implant procedure data, and short-term follow-up information until hospital discharge.

Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Combination with Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in A Single Procedure. Rationale and Technique.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and is associated with a fivefold increase in the risk of ischemic stroke and systemic embolism. Left atrial appendage (LAA) is the source of thrombi in up to 90% of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Although thromboembolic prophylaxis by means of oral anticoagulants (OAC) has been shown to be very effective (OAC), they also confer an inevitably risk of serious bleeding.

Combined catheter ablation and left atrial appendage closure as a hybrid procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Left atrial appendage (LAA) is the source of thrombi in up to 90% of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Catheter ablation (CA) is an effective treatment for symptomatic AF and, in selected cases, LAA occlusion devices have been introduced as an alternative to oral anticoagulants (OACs). The safety and feasibility of combining CA and percutaneous LAA closure (LAAC) are unknown.

Atrial fibrillation in pigs induces left atrial endocardial transcriptional remodelling.

The leading cause of cardioembolic stroke is atrial fibrillation (AF), which predisposes to atrial thrombus formation. Although rheological alterations promote a hypercoagulable environment, as yet undefined factors contribute to thrombogenesis. The role of the endocardium has barely been explored.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation. Is it mandatory to ablate the atrioventricular junction to obtain a good response?

Aim: Current guidelines recommend atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Our study compared the CRT response of patients in sinus rhythm (SR) vs. AF.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy-induced left ventricular reverse remodelling is associated with reduced plasma annexin A5.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) diminishes cardiac apoptosis and improves systolic function in heart failure (HF) patients with ventricular dyssynchrony. Plasma annexin A5 (AnxA5), a protein related to cellular damage, is associated with systolic dysfunction. We investigated whether the response to CRT is associated with plasma AnxA5.

Repeated implantation of skeletal myoblast in a swine model of chronic myocardial infarction.

Aims: Although transplantation of skeletal myoblast (SkM) in models of chronic myocardial infarction (MI) induces an improvement in cardiac function, the limited engraftment remains a major limitation. We analyse in a pre-clinical model whether the sequential transplantation of autologous SkM by percutaneous delivery was associated with increased cell engraftment and functional benefit.

Methods And Results: Chronically infarcted Goettingen minipigs (n = 20) were divided in four groups that received either media control or one, two, or three doses of SkM (mean of 329.

Late-onset periodic asystolia during vagus nerve stimulation.

Cardiac changes may occasionally occur during vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) used in epileptic patients. As they can be potentially life-threatening, it is important to detect them, and this is why an intraoperative test is performed during the implantation. Few cases of asystole during this test have been described.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy and valvular cardiomyopathy after corrective surgery.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been shown to have clinical benefits in certain groups of patients with advanced heart failure (HF). However, patients with valvular cardiomyopathy are underrepresented in randomized clinical studies. The aim of this study was to assess the medium-term (i.

Comparison of benefits and mortality in cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation versus patients in sinus rhythm (Results of the Spanish Atrial Fibrillation and Resynchronization [SPARE] Study).

The efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and the need for atrioventricular junction ablation in these patients is controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze CRT results in patients with permanent AF. A total of 470 consecutive patients who underwent CRT in 6 centers were included in this study.

Left ventricular pacing site in cardiac resynchronization therapy: clinical follow-up and predictors of failed lateral implant.

The effects of the left ventricular (LV) pacing site on the clinical results of resynchronization therapy (CRT) are not well characterized. The aim of this study was to define the effect of LV lead location on clinical response and LV remodelling, and to identify predictors of failure to implant the LV lead in a lateral location. One hundred and seventy two consecutive patients were evaluated at baseline and 6 months after CRT.

Impact of collagen type I turnover on the long-term response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: We investigated whether collagen type I turnover influences the long-term response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods And Results: Serum carboxy-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I or PICP (a marker of collagen type I synthesis) and carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I or CITP (a marker of collagen type I degradation) were measured in heart failure patients at baseline and after 1 year of CRT. Patients were categorized as responders or non-responders if they increased the distance walked in 6 min by > or <10%, respectively.

Fatal left internal mammary artery graft to subclavian vein fistula complicating dual-chamber pacemaker implantation.

We describe the case of a 75-year-old woman with an iatrogenic fistula between a left internal mammary artery graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery and the left subclavian vein that developed after implantation of a dual-chamber pacemaker.

Expression of infectious murine leukemia viruses by RAW264.7 cells, a potential complication for studies with a widely used mouse macrophage cell line.

The mouse macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7, the most commonly used mouse macrophage cell line in medical research, was originally reported to be free of replication-competent murine leukemia virus (MuLV) despite its origin in a tumor induced by Abelson MuLV containing Moloney MuLV as helper virus. As currently available, however, we find that it produces significant levels of ecotropic MuLV with the biologic features of the Moloney isolate and also MuLV of the polytropic or MCF class.

Usefulness of ventricular dyssynchrony measured using M-mode echocardiography to predict response to resynchronization therapy.

There are discordant data about the utility of septal-to-posterior wall motion delay (SPWMD) assessed using M-mode echocardiography to predict an improvement with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Baseline SPWMD was measured using M-mode in a parasternal short-axis view in a series of 67 patients undergoing CRT and followed up after 6 months. Heart failure was caused by coronary artery disease in 27 patients.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy: predictive factors of unsuccessful left ventricular lead implant.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy is an established therapy for advanced heart failure. However, coronary sinus access and pacing is not achieved in about 5-10% of patients. The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors for failure of left ventricular (LV) lead transvenous implant.

Relation of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy to left ventricular reverse remodeling.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reverses left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with congestive heart failure. However, the mechanisms leading to the clinical response to CRT remain unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze whether patients who improve clinically have greater LV reverse remodeling than nonresponders after a 12-month follow-up period.

Ergonovine test in angina with normal coronary arteries. Is it worth doing it?

Background: Patients with angina and normal coronary arteries are often misdiagnosed with having non-cardiac pain. Although vasospasm is a well-known entity, spasm provocation is not routinely done in the majority of hospitals at present.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and sixty two consecutive patients with thoracic pain and normal coronary arteries were retrospectively studied.

[Neurohormones and cytokines in heart failure. Correlation with coronary flow reserve].

Introduction And Objectives: In heart failure, the coronary flow reserve (CFR) measured by positron-emission tomography (PET) is reduced. As neurohormone and cytokine levels are also altered in patients with the condition, our aim was to determine whether there is a correlation between CFR and neurohormone and cytokine levels.

Patients And Method: The study included 40 patients with heart failure but without ischemic heart disease.

[Effect of the left ventricular pacing site on echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dyssynchrony in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy].

Introduction And Objectives: Cardiac resynchronization therapy has been shown to be an option in the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure. The current indication for this treatment is based on clinical and electrocardiographic criteria, although echocardiography has also been shown to be a useful tool for the diagnosis of ventricular dyssynchrony. The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular dyssynchrony by echocardiography and to evaluate the effect of the stimulation site on the magnitude of resynchronization.

[Impaired coronary flow reserve in patients with non-ischemic heart failure].

Introduction And Objectives: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) is impaired not only in ischemic heart disease, but also in cardiac diseases that may or may not course with heart failure. The aim of the present study was to determine if the severity of heart failure can influence CFR impairment.

Methods: Forty patients with non-ischemic heart disease and heart failure were studied 41 times.

Consumption of bakery products, sweetened soft drinks and yogurt among children aged 6-7 years: association with nutrient intake and overall diet quality.

The present study tests the hypothesis that higher consumption of bakery products, sweetened soft drinks and yogurt is associated with higher intake of energy, saturated fats, sugars and worse overall diet quality among Spanish children. This is a cross-sectional study covering 1112 children aged 6.0-7.

[Biventricular pacing as a treatment for advanced heart failure. Preliminary experience in a series of 22 consecutive patients].

Background And Objectives: Recent data suggest that biventricular pacing may play an important role in treating advanced heart failure in the presence of a significant interventricular and/or intraventricular conduction disorder by correcting cardiac dysynchrony. In this article, we review the initial technical and clinical experience with cardiac resynchronization therapy in an electrophysiology laboratory.

Methods: The first 22 consecutive patients with severe congestive heart failure, ejection fraction < 0.

Safety and feasibility of atropine added to submaximal exercise stress testing with Tl-201 SPECT for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia.

Background: We aimed to assess whether atropine administration is safe and feasible in patients unable to reach the minimal heart rate (HR) required (80% of age-predicted HR) in myocardial scintigraphic studies after exercise stress testing (EST).

Methods And Results: We studied 108 patients who underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy after EST; 0.5 mg of atropine was administered to those showing signs of fatigue before reaching minimal HR (group A, n = 44).