Survival after Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Regurgitation: Prediction from Preoperative Contractility Measurement.

Background: Noninvasive measurement of myocardial contractility (end-systolic wall stress-adjusted change in left ventricular ejection fraction from rest to exercise [ΔLVEF - ΔESS]) predicts heart failure, subnormal LVEFrest, and sudden death in asymptomatic patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation (AR). Here we assess the relation of preoperative ΔLVEF - ΔESS to survival after aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods: Patients who underwent AVR for chronic, isolated, pure severe AR (n = 66) were followed for 13.

Diastolic function improves after resolution of takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a condition of reversible left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. However, the diastolic function (DF) manifestations of TTC have not been widely investigated. We performed a bicentric study with retrospective analysis of DF in patients with TTC, during onset and at follow-up.

The nature and pattern of coronary stent recalls.

Background: Each year, over 1 million percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are performed in the United States. Coronary stents have been shown to reduce restenosis or abrupt vessel closure and therefore have improved the success of PCI. Rarely, manufacturers recall stents due to unanticipated problems.

Natural progression of low-gradient severe aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction.

Because the natural progression of low-gradient aortic stenosis (LGAS) has not been well defined, we performed a retrospective study of 116 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis who had undergone follow-up echocardiography at a median interval of 698 days (range, 371-1,020 d). All patients had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (>0.50) during and after follow-up.

Aortic stenosis: An update.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease in the world. It is a disease of the elderly and as our population is getting older in both the developed and the developing world, there has been an increase in the prevalence of AS. It is impacting the mortality and morbidity of our elderly population.

Effect of bisphosphonates on the progression of degenerative aortic stenosis.

Bisphosphonates appear to regulate mineralization in both bone and vasculature. Degenerative aortic stenosis (AS) is thought to be due to vascular calcification. We studied the effect of bisphosphonates on the progression of degenerative AS.

Validation of a prediction score model to distinguish acute coronary syndromes from other conditions causing raised cardiac troponin T levels.

Objective: Serum cardiac troponins can be elevated in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and other non-ACS conditions. We investigated the usefulness of a prediction score model comprising clinical variables to distinguish patients with ACS from other non-ACS conditions.

Methods: Two independent, non-randomized observational cohorts (groups 1 and 2) were examined, comprising consecutive patients who were admitted to a university teaching hospital and found to have a raised serum troponin T level (>or=0.

An unusual cause of breathlessness in a young man.

Amphetamine abuse is a common problem in the developed world. Cardiomyopathy secondary to amphetamine abuse is rare in the general population. The present report describes a 34-year-old man who presented with shortness of breath.