Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors During Cancer Therapy: Benefits, Risks, and Ongoing Clinical Trials.

Purpose Of Review: The goal of this paper is to summarize the data pertaining to the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) for the prevention of cardiotoxicity in patients receiving anthracyclines for cancer treatment. We discuss the potential efficacy of this class of medications, incorporating insights from existing literature and ongoing studies.

Recent Findings: SGLT2i are a class of medications which were initially developed for treatment of Type 2 diabetes and later extended to treat heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction regardless of diabetes status.

Cardiac valvular involvement in granulomatosis with polyangiitis in long-term observation.

Introduction And Objectives: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is an antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated systemic vasculitis and is characterized by inflammation of blood vessels. The aim of the present study was to assess cardiac valvular changes in patients with GPA in a cohort of 105 patients followed for a mean of six years.

Methods: We followed 105 patients (mean age 50.

Prognostic value of coronary atherosclerosis and CAC score for the risk of chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD): The protocol of ANTEC study.

Background: Cardiological complications of oncological treatment, including the most serious one, heart failure, constitute a significant and still unsolved clinical problem. A history of dyslipidemia and complications of atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease, are established risk factors for cardiotoxicity in cancer patients. In recent years, a protective effect of statin treatment on the development of heart failure in cancer patients has been observed.

Predictors of cardiovascular events in patients with primary systemic vasculitis: A 5 years prospective observational study.

Introduction: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is one of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) - associated systemic vasculitis and is characterised by inflammation of blood vessels. Systemic vasculitis exhibits an enhanced cardiovascular morbidity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become a leading cause of death in this group of patients.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis and its relation with classic risk factors for atherosclerosis, echocardiographic parameters and laboratory findings in GPA patients.

High incidence of venous thromboembolism but not of coronary artery disease in granulomatosis with polyangiitis in first years after diagnosis.

Objectives: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), previously known as Wegener's granulomatosis, is one of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) - associated vasculitis. In patients with GPA an increased incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), mainly during active disease, has been described. The aim of the present study was to assess the incidence of VTE and its relation with classic risk factors for atherosclerosis, presence of coronary artery disease (CAD), echocardiographic parameters and laboratory findings in GPA patients.

Elevated levels of d-dimer are associated with inflammation and disease activity rather than risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis in long term observation.

Purpose: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is one of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) - associated vasculitis. The disease is characterized by necrotizing inflammation of small vessels causing tissue ischemia in a variety of organs. The aim of the present study was an evaluation of inflammation, coagulation and fibrinolysis biomarkers, and their possible associations with various clinical and laboratory parameters in GPA patients.

Exercise training program in patients with NYHA III class systolic heart failure - Parallel comparison to the effects of resynchronization therapy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess exercise capacity and echocardiographic parameters in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in NYHA III functional class, after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation followed by 6 months of supervised rehabilitation in ICD patients.

Materials And Methods: The study included patients with HFrEF and impaired left ventricle systolic function (LVEF ≤ 35%), divided into two groups: CRT group - patients after CRT-D implantation > six weeks, and ICD-rehab group - patients after ICD implantation > six weeks, followed by 6 months of supervised aerobic interval training and the conditioning exercises. At baseline and after 6 months in all the patients cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPX) and standard echocardiographic examinations were performed.

Patient and Physician Preferences for Nonoperative Management for Low Rectal Cancer: Is It a Reasonable Treatment Option?

Background: Although the body of evidence supporting nonoperative management for rectal cancer has been accumulating, there has been little systematic investigation to explore how physicians and patients value the tradeoffs between oncologic and functional outcomes after abdominal perineal resection and nonoperative management.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to elicit patient and physician preferences for nonoperative management relative to abdominal perineal resection in the setting of low rectal cancer.

Design: We conducted a standardized interviews of patients and a cross-sectional survey of physicians.

Clinical, echocardiographic, and pacing parameters affecting atrial fibrillation burden in patients with tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome.

Background: The influence of various factors on atrial fibrillation (AF) development in the population of tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (TBS) patients remains unclear. There are no data on the impact of different right ventricular pacing percentage (RVp%) profiles.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the AF burden (AFB) and various clinical, echocardiographic, and pacing parameters in TBS patients.

Improvement of exercise tolerance in cardiopulmonary testing with sustained safety after regular training in outpatients with systolic heart failure (NYHA III) and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Prospective 18-month randomized study.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of individual training on the level of physical capacity and echocardiographic parameters in patients with systolic heart failure (SHF), NYHA III and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

Material And Methods: The study included 84 patients with SHF, randomly assigned to one of two groups: with regular training (ICD-Ex) and a control group (ICD-control). The ICD-Ex group participated in a hospital rehabilitation program which after discharge was individually continued for 6 months in an outpatient setting.

Echocardiographic Assessment in Patients with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is one of the most common forms of systemic vasculitis, which usually involves the upper and lower respiratory tract, but it may affect also multiple organs. The aim of the study was an echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac involvement in GPA patients during remission. Eighty eight patients with GPA were evaluated in the study.

Colonic Stents for Colorectal Cancer Are Seldom Used and Mainly for Palliation of Obstruction: A Population-Based Study.

Self-expandable stents for obstructing colorectal cancer (CRC) offer an alternative to operative management. The objective of the study was to determine stent utilization for CRC obstruction in the province of Ontario between April 1, 2000, and March 30, 2009. Colonic stent utilization characteristics, poststent insertion health outcomes, and health care encounters were recorded.

Prospective assessment of cytokine IL-15 activity in patients with refractory atrial fibrillation episodes.

Aims: Inflammatory state is considered a risk factor of atrial fibrillation (AF) occurrence. The aim of this study was a prospective evaluation of the inflammation parameters in patients with different forms of AF without structural heart disease.

Methods And Results: One hundred fifty-eight patients with paroxysmal/persistent AF (87; 55.

Osteoprotegerin in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis and preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate value of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis and preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction.

Methods: We have prospectively followed 70 patients with aortic stenosis (mean aortic gradient ≥15 mmHg) and preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction for 1 year. In all patients, echocardiography and blood tests (OPG, lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) were performed at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up.

Murine ileocolic bowel resection with primary anastomosis.

Intestinal resections are frequently required for treatment of diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract, with Crohn's disease and colon cancer being two common examples. Despite the frequency of these procedures, a significant knowledge gap remains in describing the inherent effects of intestinal resection on host physiology and disease pathophysiology. This article provides detailed instructions for an ileocolic resection with primary end-to-end anastomosis in mice, as well as essential aspects of peri-operative care to maximize post-operative success.

Comparison of the rhythm control treatment strategy versus the rate control strategy in patients with permanent or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation and heart failure treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy - a pilot study of Cardiac Resynchronization in Atrial Fibrillation Trial (Pilot-CRAfT): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The only subgroups of patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation in which the efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy has been scientifically proven are patients with indications for right ventricular pacing and patients after atrioventricular junction ablation. However it is unlikely that atrioventricular junction ablation would be a standard procedure in the majority of the heart failure patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy and concomitant atrial fibrillation due to the irreversible character of the procedure and a spontaneous sinus rhythm resumption that occurs in about 10% of these patients.

Methods/design: Pilot-CRAfT is the first randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of a rhythm control strategy in atrial fibrillation patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy devices.

Potential prevention of pacing-induced heart failure using simple pacemaker programming algorithm.

Introduction: Right ventricular pacing (RVP) causes ventricular desynchronization and may lead to the development of heart failure (HF). Prolongation of atrioventricular delay (AVD) in DDDR pacemakers reduces unnecessary RV stimulation. The aim of the study was to verify the influence of RVP reduction on HF symptoms.

Combined hypotensive treatment with ≥ 3 hypotensive drugs in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation and arterial hypertension ensures more effective arrhythmia control than using less drugs.

Background: Combined arterial hypertension (AH) therapy ensures the effectiveness of treatment and improves haemodynamic parameters of cardiac function.

Aim: The evaluation of therapeutic regimens in the prevention of recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes in hypertensive patients with paroxysmal/persistent forms of AF.

Methods: Prospective observation included patients (n = 164), without and with AH, grade I and II, with paroxysmal (51.

Small bowel fibrosis and systemic inflammatory response after ileocolonic anastomosis in IL-10 null mice.

Background: Crohn's disease recurrence after an ileocecal resection is common; yet, its pathophysiology is poorly understood and available treatment is suboptimal. The purpose of this study was to examine the bacterial, local, and systemic immune changes that follow ileocolonic anastomosis in a rodent model of Crohn's disease, the interleukin-10 gene-deficient (IL-10 null) mice.

Materials And Methods: We divided wild-type and IL-10 null mice into three treatment groups: ileocolonic anastomosis, sham operation (ileo-ileal anastomosis), and control group without an operation.

The Utility of Lighted Ureteral Stents in Laparoscopic Colorectal Resection: A Survey of Canadian Surgeons.

Background: Establishing the exact location of the ureters is critical in preventing ureteric injury during colorectal surgery. In laparoscopic colorectal resections this identification can be facilitated by the pre-operative insertion of lighted ureteral stents (LUS). LUS may also serve as an invaluable educational aid during the teaching of colorectal surgery.