Syncope, Brugada syndrome, and COVID-19 lung disease.

A 52-year-old male with no history of familiar sudden death arrived at our Emergency Department after syncope with loss of consciousness occurred during high fever. The thoracic high-resolution computed tomography demonstrated bilateral multiple ground-glass opacities. The nose-pharyngeal swab resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Clinical predictors of pocket hematoma after cardiac device implantation and replacement.

Aims: Pocket hematoma is a common complication of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedures. the aim of the study was to research the clinical factors associated with pocket hematoma formation after CIED implantation or replacement and to identify the best perioperative antithrombotic management.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 500 consecutive patients who underwent to CIED implantation or replacement at our center from November 2014.

Relationship Between Electrocardiographic Findings and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Phenotypes in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy.

Background The new designation of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy defines a broader spectrum of disease phenotypes, which include right dominant, biventricular, and left dominant variants. We evaluated the relationship between electrocardiographic findings and contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance phenotypes in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results We studied a consecutive cohort of patients with a definite diagnosis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, according to 2010 International Task Force criteria, who underwent electrocardiography and contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance.

Diagnostic value and prognostic implications of early cardiac magnetic resonance in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: In patients who survived out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), it is crucial to establish the underlying cause and its potential reversibility.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the incremental diagnostic and prognostic role of early cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in survivors of OHCA.

Methods: Among 139 consecutive OHCA patients, the study enrolled 44 patients (median age 43 years; 84% male) who underwent coronary angiography and CMR ≤7 days after admission.

[Sudden cardiac arrest in Italian sports facilities in 2015: epidemiological implications of the so-called "Balduzzi decree"].

Under the Italian Law "Legge Balduzzi", which was issued after the sudden cardiac death of professional athletes Pier Mario Morosini and Vigor Bovolenta in 2012, the presence of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and personnel trained to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be available in every Italian sports facility from 2016. In 2015 the national and local press reported 123 cases of sudden cardiac arrests (SCA) occurring in Italian sport facilities, corresponding to an estimated ≈0.2-0.

Nonischemic Left Ventricular Scar as a Substrate of Life-Threatening Ventricular Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death in Competitive Athletes.

Background: The clinical profile and arrhythmic outcome of competitive athletes with isolated nonischemic left ventricular (LV) scar as evidenced by contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance remain to be elucidated.

Methods And Results: We compared 35 athletes (80% men, age: 14-48 years) with ventricular arrhythmias and isolated LV subepicardial/midmyocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (group A) with 38 athletes with ventricular arrhythmias and no LGE (group B) and 40 healthy control athletes (group C). A stria LGE pattern with subepicardial/midmyocardial distribution, mostly involving the lateral LV wall, was found in 27 (77%) of group A versus 0 controls (group C; P<0.

Relationship between T-wave inversion and transmural myocardial edema as evidenced by cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with clinically suspected acute myocarditis: clinical and prognostic implications.

Background: The pathophysiologic mechanisms and the prognostic meaning of electrocardiographic (ECG) T-wave inversion (TWI) occurring in a subgroup of patients with clinically suspected acute myocarditis remain to be elucidated. Contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) offers the potential to identify myocardial tissue changes such as edema and/or fibrosis which may underlie TWI.

Methods And Results: We studied 76 consecutive patients (median age 34years) with clinically suspected acute myocarditis, using a comprehensive CMR protocol which included T2 weighted sequences for myocardial edema.

Role of endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE) in defending against plaque formation induced by oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients.

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between endogenous secretory receptors for advanced glycation end products (esRAGE) and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM) with/without advanced macro-angiopathy.

Methods: Sixty-one T2DM were assessed for glycemic control, lipid profile, AGEs, carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), esRAGE and vitamin E levels, and underwent echo-color-Doppler of the abdominal aorta and aorto-iliac tree, carotid and lower limb arteries to check for evidence of plaques.

Results: AGEs and CML levels were significantly higher in T2DM with plaques than in those without (P = 0.

Classical macrophage activation up-regulates several matrix metalloproteinases through mitogen activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-κB.

Remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell surface by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is an important function of monocytes and macrophages. Recent work has emphasised the diverse roles of classically and alternatively activated macrophages but the consequent regulation of MMPs and their inhibitors has not been studied comprehensively. Classical activation of macrophages derived in vitro from un-fractionated CD16(+/-) or negatively-selected CD16(-) macrophages up-regulated MMP-1, -3, -7, -10, -12, -14 and -25 and decreased TIMP-3 steady-state mRNA levels.