Publications by authors named "Athanasios Samaras"

Article Synopsis
  • - Current research indicates that asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) may lead to similar risks of stroke and mortality as symptomatic AF, despite conflicting previous findings.
  • - A review of 36 studies, involving over 217,000 participants, showed no significant differences in all-cause mortality, stroke, or other major health outcomes between symptomatic and asymptomatic AF patients; however, symptomatic patients had a higher risk of developing new heart failure.
  • - Symptomatic patients tended to receive more aggressive treatments like antiarrhythmic drugs and ablation therapy, while asymptomatic patients had a higher chance of progressing to permanent AF.
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia among adults worldwide, frequently co-occurring with comorbidities such as Heart Failure (HF) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This association contributes to increased morbidity and mortality, elevated healthcare costs, and diminished quality of life. Consequently, preventing or delaying the onset and recurrence of AF is crucial for reducing the incidence of complications.

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Article Synopsis
  • The purpose of the review is to summarize the current applications and evidence of cardiac CT technologies in preventing coronary artery disease (CAD).* -
  • Cardiac CT angiography (CTA) has become the primary non-invasive method for assessing symptomatic CAD, alongside other technologies like coronary calcium scoring and plaque analysis, though their effectiveness in enhancing risk prediction needs further exploration.* -
  • The review discusses barriers to using these technologies in primary prevention, the need for more research, and potential clinical approaches to incorporate cardiac CT in preventing CAD.*
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Background Clinical and translational research suggests that mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) may prevent atrial fibrosis and electrical remodeling associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to consolidate existing evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of MRAs on incident or recurrent AF. Methods Medline, Cochrane Library and Scopus were searched until February 12, 2024.

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: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the influence of obesity on the prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). The present study aimed to explore the potential association of body mass index (BMI) with the clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with AF. : In this retrospective, post hoc analysis of the MISOAC-AF randomized trial, 1113 AF patients were included and stratified as the following: underweight (BMI < 18 kg/m), normal weight (BMI 18-24.

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Introduction: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have examined mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) evaluated the comparative efficacy and safety of MRAs in HFrEF.

Materials And Methods: MEDLINE(Pubmed), Scopus, Cochrane and ClinicalTrials.

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Heart failure (HF) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, significant advances have been made in its treatment; however, diuretics remain the cornerstone in managing congestion in HF. Although diuretic resistance poses a significant challenge in the management of HF and is associated with poor outcomes, only limited alternative pharmaceutical options are available in clinical practice.

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This systematic review explores the effects of landiolol administration in individuals presenting with supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT) and concurrent left ventricular dysfunction, without being septic or in a peri-operative period. We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, retrieving a total of 15 eligible studies according to prespecified eligibility criteria. Patients treated with landiolol experienced a substantial reduction in heart rate (HR) (mean HR reduction: 42 bpm, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 37-47, I = 82%) and were more likely to achieve the target HR compared to those receiving alternative antiarrhythmic therapy (pooled odds ratio (OR): 5.

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Background And Aims: Residual leaks are not infrequent after left atrial appendage occlusion. However, there is still uncertainty regarding their prognostic implications. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of residual leaks after left atrial appendage occlusion.

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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often accompanied by thyroid disease (THD). This study aimed to explore the relationship between THD and the occurrence of significant clinical outcomes in patients with AF. This post hoc analysis utilized data from the MISOAC-AF trial (NCT02941978), which enrolled hospitalized patients with AF.

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Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a distinct subtype of myocardial infarction (MI), occurring in about 8-10% of spontaneous MI cases referred for coronary angiography. Unlike MI with obstructive coronary artery disease, MINOCA's pathogenesis is more intricate and heterogeneous, involving mechanisms such as coronary thromboembolism, coronary vasospasm, microvascular dysfunction, dissection, or plaque rupture. Diagnosing MINOCA presents challenges and includes invasive and non-invasive strategies aiming to differentiate it from alternative diagnoses and confirm the criteria of elevated cardiac biomarkers, non-obstructive coronary arteries, and the absence of alternate explanations for the acute presentation.

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Data predicting the length of stay (LOS) in patients with concurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the potential predictors for prolonged LOS and its prognostic value. In this observational post hoc analysis of the MISOAC-AF (Motivational Interviewing to Support Oral AntiCoagulation adherence in patients with non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation) randomized trial logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the parameters associated with prolonged LOS (defined as >7 days according to diagnostic accuracy analyses).

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Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and cancer often co-exist. Each has been associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize available data regarding the incidence of arterial thromboembolism (TE), bleeding, and all-cause mortality in patients with AF with or without cancer.

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Aims: The CHADS-VASc score is fundamental to stroke risk assessment in atrial fibrillation. However, stroke-related risk factors can be modified later in life. This study aimed to assess the association of changes in CHADS-VASc score over time (Delta CHADS-VASc score) with the risk of ischemic stroke.

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The proportion of very elderly patients, namely octogenarians and nonagenarians, is expected to rise substantially over the next decades. This population is more prone to age‑dependent diseases associated with higher thromboembolic and bleeding risks. The very elderly are under‑represented in oral anticoagulation (OAC) clinical trials.

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Article Synopsis
  • * In a study of 1,103 hospitalized AF patients, 13% also had COPD, which was linked to a higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular deaths, though it didn't affect hospitalization rates.
  • * The type of beta-blocker (cardioselective vs. non-cardioselective) didn't show significant differences in outcomes related to mortality or hospitalizations in patients with both AF and COPD.
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Background: Transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a promising alternative to surgical closure but has been associated with conduction disorders. Vascular access via multiple large vessels is associated with procedure-related complications, undermining the benefit of percutaneous approaches. In this case, we present the first-in-man transcatheter closure of a perimembranous VSD with an Amplatzer Duct Occluder IΙ in an adult patient via a single transradial artery access.

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Background: European sea bass is a species characterized by high and dispersed cortisol levels. The aim of the present study was to analyze all published data on basal and post-acute stress cortisol levels in this species.

Methods: For this systematic review and meta-analysis the Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched for papers reporting plasma or serum cortisol levels in E.

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Introduction: Mining of electronic health record (EHRs) data is increasingly being implemented all over the world but mainly focuses on structured data. The capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) could reverse the underusage of unstructured EHR data and enhance the quality of medical research and clinical care. This study aims to develop an AI-based model to transform unstructured EHR data into an organised, interpretable dataset and form a national dataset of cardiac patients.

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Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) commonly coexist in real-life clinical practice. Among patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), guidelines call for evidence-based target doses of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and beta-blockers. However, target doses of guideline-directed medical treatment (GDMT) are often underused in real-world conditions, including HF-AF comorbidity.

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Cortisol concentration in fish scales is a novel and reliable indicator of chronic stress. However, until now cortisol in scales has been considered to be accumulated through the circulation and it has not yet been studied whether it can be de novo produced from cells found in the scales. In the current study, scales of European sea bass, , were stimulated in-vitro with a range of concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to investigate if they can produce and release cortisol.

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