Effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors on individual clinical endpoints and quality of life.

Aims: Sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors (SGLTis) have cardiovascular protective effects. We aimed to assess the effects of SGLTis on individual hard clinical endpoints and quality of life (QoL) in patients with cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods And Results: Data was searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and clinicaltrials.

Ablation Strategies for Repeat Procedures in Atrial Fibrillation Recurrences Despite Durable Pulmonary Vein Isolation: The Prospective Randomized ASTRO AF Multicenter Trial.

Background: Ablation strategies for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation and isolated pulmonary veins vary and their effects on arrhythmia recurrence remain unclear. A prospective randomized German multicenter trial sought to compare 2 ablation strategies in this patient cohort.

Methods: Patients with atrial fibrillation despite durable pulmonary vein isolation were randomly assigned at 7 centers to undergo low-voltage area ablation using 3-dimensional mapping and irrigated radiofrequency current ablation (group A) or empirical left atrial appendage isolation (LAAI) using the cryoballoon followed by staged interventional left atrial appendage closure (group B).

Splenic rupture and fungal endocarditis in a pediatric patient with invasive fusariosis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for aplastic anemia: A case report.

Background: Invasive mold infections are a well-known and life-threatening condition after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). While species are recognized as predominant pathogens, species should also be considered due to their broad environmental distribution and the expected poor outcome of invasive fusariosis. Particularly, splenic rupture as a complication of disseminated disease has not been reported yet.

Invasive Validation of Antares, a New Algorithm to Calculate Central Blood Pressure from Oscillometric Upper Arm Pulse Waves.

Antares is an algorithm for pulse wave analysis (PWA) by oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitors in order to estimate central (aortic) blood pressure (cBP). Antares aims to enable brachial cuff-based BP monitors to be type II-devices, determining absolute cBP values independently of potential peripheral BP inaccuracies. The present study is an invasive validation of the Antares algorithm in the custo screen 400.

Diabetes and outcomes following guided de-escalation of antiplatelet treatment in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a pre-specified analysis from the randomised TROPICAL-ACS trial.

Aims: A guided de-escalation of P2Y12 inhibitor treatment is considered an alternative treatment strategy in ACS patients undergoing PCI. However, the safety and efficacy of this strategy may differ in diabetic vs non-diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of platelet function testing (PFT)-guided de-escalation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in ACS patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Takayasu's arteritis: a case with relapse after urgent coronary revascularization.

Background: Vasculitides are commonly unrecognized causes of coronary stenosis and myocardial ischemia. We report on a 24-year old patient with Takayasu's arteritis who underwent urgent percutaneous coronary intervention, suffered from symptomatic restenosis of the left main coronary artery during standard immunosuppressive therapy.

Case Presentation: A 24-year old woman was referred for coronary angiography because of typical progressive angina pectoris.

De novo acute heart failure and acutely decompensated chronic heart failure.

Background: Heart failure is one of the most common diseases of adults in Europe, with an overall prevalence of 1-2%. Among persons aged 60 and above, its prevalence is above 10% in men and 8% in women. Acute heart failure has a poor prognosis; it is associated with a high rate of rehospitalization and a 1-year mortality of 20-30%.

Multicenter long-term validation of a minicourse in radiation-reducing techniques in the catheterization laboratory.

Patient radiation exposure in invasive cardiology is considerable. We aimed to investigate, in a multicenter field study, the long-term efficacy of an educational 90-minute workshop in cardiac invasive techniques with reduced irradiation. Before and at a median period of 2.

Efficacy of a minicourse in radiation-reducing techniques in invasive cardiology: a multicenter field study.

Objectives: Our goal was to validate an educational 90-min minicourse in lower-irradiating cardiac invasive techniques.

Background: Despite comprehensive radiation safety programs, patient radiation exposure in invasive cardiology remains considerable.

Methods: Before and at a median period of 3.

Variants of Toll-like receptor 4 predict cardiac recovery in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

The clinical course of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) varies from cardiac recovery to end stage heart failure. The etiology of this variability is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the impact of coding polymorphisms of the innate immune protein Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on left ventricular performance in patients with DCM.

Comparison of rotational with conventional coronary angiography.

Background: Patient radiation exposure and consumption of contrast medium are considered major risks of diagnostic coronary angiography (CA). Rotation of the C-arm during CA could provide similar diagnostic accuracy and lower radiation exposure and contrast medium consumption.

Methods: To compare feasibility, safety, diagnostic accuracy, patient radiation exposure, and consumption of contrast medium of rotational CA with the invasive standard technique, intraindividual comparisons of the results obtained by both techniques were performed in 235 patients with an indication for first-time elective CA.

Effects of immunoadsorption and subsequent immunoglobulin G substitution on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Recent data indicate that cardiac antibodies play an active role in the pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and may contribute to cardiac dysfunction in patients with DCM. The present study investigated the influence of immunoadsorption with subsequent immunoglobulin G substitution (IA/IgG) on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in patients with DCM.

Methods: Sixty patients with DCM (New York Heart Association II-IV, left ventricular ejection fraction < or =45%) were included in this single-center university hospital-based case-control study.

Mild renal dysfunction as a non-traditional cardiovascular risk factor?-Association of cystatin C-based glomerular filtration rate with flow-mediated vasodilation.

Objective: Chronic kidney disease, at least in its advanced stages, can be regarded as a non-traditional cardiovascular risk factor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether early stages of renal dysfunction are associated with flow-mediated vasodilatation, as an early marker of the atherosclerotic disease process.

Methods: In 1515 subjects (753 females) from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania, the relationship between flow-mediated vasodilatation of the brachial artery (cuff occlusion of the forearm for 5 min) and glomerular filtration rate, estimated on the basis of serum cystatin C levels, was analyzed under consideration of various cardiovascular risk factors.

Early detection and efficient therapy of cardiac angiosarcoma due to routine transesophageal echocardiography after cerebrovascular stroke.

Primary malignant cardiac tumors (cardiac angiosarcomas) are exceedingly rare. Since there are initially nonspecific or missing symptoms, these tumors are usually diagnosed only in an advanced, often incurable stage, after the large tumor mass elicits hemodynamic obstructive symptoms. A 59-year-old female presented with symptoms of cerebral ischemia.

Unintentional extraction of a coronary stent deployed 4 months earlier during cutting-balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis.

In general, coronary stents, when deployed in a coronary artery by conventional balloon expansion, appear to be tightly forced into the vessel wall, virtually precluding intentional or unintentional removal of the stents. Here, we present a case of unintended coronary stent extraction during cutting balloon angioplasty for high-grade in-stent restenosis of a stent successfully deployed 4 months earlier. The blades of the cutting balloon became stuck in the stent struts.

Cutting-balloon angioplasty effectively facilitates the interventional procedure and leads to a low rate of recurrent stenosis in ostial bifurcation coronary lesions: A subgroup analysis of the NICECUT multicenter registry.

Background: Displacement of plaque is a major concern during coronary intervention of ostial bifurcation lesions. For this reason, angioplasty involves complex stenting procedures, which may trigger development of restenosis in a previously non-diseased parent vessel.

Objectives: To examine, whether plaque displacement may be prevented by scoring atherosclerotic plaque with a cutting-balloon (CB) stand-alone procedure.

Immunoadsorption in dilated cardiomyopathy: 6-month results from a randomized study.

Background: Various randomized studies evidenced that immunoadsorption (IA) repeated at monthly intervals induced acute and prolonged hemodynamic benefit in patients with severe heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Some findings indicate that the use of only one course of IA therapy may also induce prolonged beneficial effects.

Methods: This randomized study included 22 patients suffering from severe heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] <35%) due to dilated cardiomyopathy.

Excimer laser thrombus elimination for prevention of distal embolization and no-reflow in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction: results from the randomized LaserAMI study.

Background: Results for standard revascularization therapies in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been limited in part by distal embolization, a process which might be reduced by the application of ultraviolet laser light. The aim was to assess feasibility and safety of excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) in a randomized study in AMI.

Methods: Twenty-seven consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation AMI (aged 57.

Effects of immunoadsorption on the nt-BNP and nt-ANP plasma levels of patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy.

Immunoadsorption (IA) represents an additional therapeutic approach in patients with severe heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). nt-BNP and nt-ANP plasma levels are prognostic markers in patients with heart failure. The effect of IA on nt-BNP and nt-ANP plasma levels is unknown.

Tooth loss is independently associated with the risk of acquired aortic valve sclerosis.

Background: Several studies have shown that periodontal disease and atherosclerosis are associated. Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) represents the sum of processes that are similar to the development of atherosclerosis. The present analysis was performed to investigate associations between periodontal disease, tooth loss, and AVS.

Role of immunoglobulin G3 subclass in dilated cardiomyopathy: results from protein A immunoadsorption.

Background: Immunoadsorption (IA) by anti-immunoglobulin G (anti-IgG) columns that effectively eliminates total IgG, including IgG3 subclass, represents an additional therapeutic approach in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A recent study revealed that IA with protein A columns does not effectively remove IgG3 and does not induce hemodynamic improvement in DCM.

Methods: Eighteen patients with DCM (left ventricular ejection fraction < or =30%) were included in this case-control study.

Potential role of humoral immunity in cardiac dysfunction of patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: This research was conducted to evaluate the role played by the humoral immune system in cardiac dysfunction among dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients, as enabled by immunoadsorption therapy (IA) that effectively removes functionally active cardiac autoantibodies from plasma.

Background: Various circulating autoantibodies have been detected among patients suffering from DCM.

Methods: Before IA, antibodies were purified from plasma of 45 DCM patients (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] <30%).

Potential role of autoantibodies belonging to the immunoglobulin G-3 subclass in cardiac dysfunction among patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Immunoadsorption capable of removing circulating autoantibodies represents an additional therapeutic approach in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The role played by autoantibodies belonging to the immunoglobulin (Ig) subclass G-3 in cardiac dysfunction remains to be elucidated.

Methods And Results: Patients with DCM (left ventricular ejection fraction <30%) participated in this case-control study.