World Heart Federation Consensus on Transthyretin Amyloidosis Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a progressive and fatal condition that requires early diagnosis, management, and specific treatment. The availability of new disease-modifying therapies has made successful treatment a reality. Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy can be either age-related (wild-type form) or caused by mutations in the TTR gene (genetic, hereditary forms).

Association between physical activity and coronary artery calcification estimated by computed tomography: A systematic review.

Background: The relationship between physical activity and coronary artery calcification (CAC) was evaluated in different studies during the last years, although the results were conflicting.

Objective: The main objective of the present systematic review was to assess the association between different levels of physical activity and CAC score estimated by computed tomography (CT).

Methods: This systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines.

Validation of aortic valve calcium quantification thresholds measured by computed tomography in Asian patients with calcific aortic stenosis.

Aims: Sex-specific thresholds of aortic valve calcification (AVC) have been proposed and validated in Caucasians. Thus, we aimed to validate their accuracy in Asians.

Methods And Results: Patients with calcific aortic stenosis (AS) from seven international centres were included.

Surgery for papillary fibroelastoma with uncommon location in left ventricle.

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma is a rare tumor. Its location in the left ventricular wall is uncommon. A 59-year-old woman with 2 previous strokes presented with a tumor in the left ventricular apex.

Preoperative 6-minute walk test adds prognostic information to Euroscore in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Aims: The authors investigated the additive prognostic value of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) to Euroscore in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) METHODS AND RESULTS: 208 patients with severe AS underwent the 6MWT before AVR, as part of a randomised trial (ASSERT) comparing stented and stentless aortic valves. Clinical follow-up was available for 200 patients up to 12 months. The rate of death, myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke (time to first event) was 13% (n = 14) in patients walking <300 metres compared to 4% (n = 4) in those who walked > or =300 metres (p = 0.

Written consent to use the drug in children: the problem of off-label drugs.

Cardiac arrhythmias in pediatric patients have different mechanisms and frequencies compared to adult patients. There are many physiological differences between children and adults that may affect the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic of the antiarrhythmic drugs in pediatric population. Children, and specially breast feeding children, cannot be considered low weighted adults to select antiarrhythmic drug doses.

Diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes in the UK: high risk and under treated. Results from the prospective registry of acute ischaemic syndromes in the UK (PRAIS-UK).

Objectives: Short-term randomised trials suggest that patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), admitted with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are at increased risk of subsequent adverse events. We tested whether this hypothesis was true for an unselected population of ACS patients with and without DM admitted with non-ST elevation MI or unstable angina, in a non-trial setting over a longer term of follow-up.

Methods: Prospective, centrally, coordinated multicenter registry involving 56 centers throughout the UK (half having angiographic facilities).

Mortality following non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome: 4 years follow-up of the PRAIS UK Registry (Prospective Registry of Acute Ischaemic Syndromes in the UK).

Aim: To present information on long-term prognosis and risk factors following an admission with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: A cohort of 653 patients was followed for mortality and causes of death using data from the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS). Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the prognostic factors.

The pathologic basis of Q-wave and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the pathologic basis of Q-wave (QW) and non-Q-wave (NQW) myocardial infarction (MI).

Background: The QW/NQW distinction remains in wide clinical use but the meaning of the difference remains controversial. We hypothesized that measurement of total MI size and transmural extent by late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) would identify the pathologic basis of QWs.